In brief
The Los Angeles courtroom became the site of shocking evidence as prosecutors presented graphic photos of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered body. The images shocked her parents and the public, marking the first time the gruesome details were shown in court. Singer D4vd, who goes by the stage name D4vd, has pleaded not guilty to murder and sexual‑abuse charges, with prosecutors alleging he used chainsaws and body‑bags to conceal the crime. The preliminary hearing will run for several days as prosecutors build a case for trial, while the victim’s parents and community watch in stunned silence.
WARNING: Readers may find details in this article distressing.
The opening day of a preliminary hearing in the murder case against singer D4vd, stage name of David Anthony Burke, saw court witnesses and the family of the victim, 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, confront graphic crime‑scene photos of an alleged dismembered body.
Prosecutors showed photographs that capture the body as it was found last year in a Tesla registered to Burke, inside a Hollywood tow yard. The images included a torso in a body bag, a severed head in a plastic container, and a black refuse bag containing limbs, all staged in the trunk of the car.
A homicide detective testified that Burke ordered a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool and a shovel online in the days following Celeste’s death, allegedly to dispose of the remains. Burke has pleaded not guilty to murder and sexual‑abuse charges.
For Celeste’s parents, the sight marked a horror they had feared but never imagined. Their lawyer, Patrick Steinfeld, described the reaction as “at a loss for words” and noted the images were “absolutely deplorable” as the head was not immediately recognizable.
During the hearing, prosecutor Beth Silverman repeatedly warned the parents before each image, checking if they preferred to look away. Supporters sat beside Celeste’s mother, offering comfort as she wept.
The judge was shown photographs of red‑ink tattoos linking Burke and Celeste, including a “Celeste” tattoo on Burke’s left ring finger and a matching “Shhh…” on his right index finger. Prosecutors also displayed a photo of Celeste’s similar “Shhh…” tattoo on her right index finger.
The preliminary hearing will last for several days, with prosecutors calling additional witnesses. They aim to establish a sufficient evidentiary record for the case to proceed to a jury trial.
