D4vd’s Lawyers Question Lack Of Dna Testing On Evidence Tied To Teen’s Killing

D4vd’s attorneys began revealing elements of their defense strategy Thursday, questioning constabulary complete why further DNA testing was not conducted connected items recovered wrong nan singer’s location and conveyance that investigators opportunity were linked to nan sidesplitting of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The questioning came during nan 3rd time of a preliminary hearing, wherever a judge will find whether location is capable grounds to nonstop D4vd — whose ineligible sanction is David Burke — to proceedings connected charges including murder, intersexual maltreatment of a kid and mutilation of a body.

Burke has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys person said they will vigorously take sides him, but person antecedently offered fewer specifications astir their type of events surrounding Rivas Hernandez’s decease and nan find of her dismembered remains successful nan trunk of Burke’s Tesla.

Defense lawyer Blair Berk focused connected 2 mini chainsaws recovered successful Burke’s garage, which prosecutors allege was wherever nan assemblage was dismembered. Los Angeles Police Department criminalist Lauren Wallace testified that first chemic testing recovered nary grounds of humor connected nan saws, and investigators truthful did not swab nan handles for imaginable DNA from anyone who whitethorn person touched them.

“If an point has personification else’s DNA connected it, you wouldn’t beryllium capable to spot that astatine nan time,” Berk said.

“No you’re not capable to spot touch DNA,” Wallace said, past reiterated that nan blades had tested antagonistic for blood.

“But that doesn’t preclude astatine each that location could beryllium personification else’s touch DNA,” Berk said.

Under prosecution questioning, Wallace said testing for DNA astatine nan suspect's residence wouldn't make consciousness because nan suspect's DNA would beryllium everywhere.

Berk soon aft asked her: “You were alert that aggregate group lived astatine this residence, right?”

Wallace answered, “Yes, we were aware.”

Wallace testified earlier that passim nan garage, she recovered indications of humor that had been cleaned up.

She said Thursday that her squad besides recovered jugs of clone humor successful nan garage. Berk suggested done her questioning that Burke had utilized it successful euphony videos.

An indie-pop vocalist whose euphony and online beingness brought him a immense following, D4vd's songs and videos often person acheronian and convulsive imagery often delivered done an alter-ego characteristic he calls Itami. His breakthrough azygous successful 2022 was called “Romantic Homicide,” 1 of respective of his songs pinch much than a cardinal plays connected Spotify. His debut full-length album, “Withered,” was released 2 days aft prosecutors opportunity Rivas Hernandez was killed.

On Thursday, he wore orangish jailhouse apparel and glasses, sitting astatine nan defense array calmly and intently watching nan witnesses testify. He did not deny immoderate emotion during nan proceedings but was seen during nan recess interacting pinch and smiling pinch his attorneys.

Rivas Hernandez's parents were backmost successful nan courtroom Thursday afternoon, sitting successful nan beforehand row. They did not person a visible guidance to nan mostly method testimony.

A constabulary detective besides testified that cell-tower search of Burke's telephone and a strategy successful his Tesla showed he was astatine his Hollywood location connected nan nighttime of April 23, 2025 — nan clip and spot prosecutors opportunity Rivas Hernandez was killed. The information showed that later that night, he traveled to a distant portion of Santa Barbara County astir 95 miles (152 kilometers) to nan northwest. He made 2 consequent visits to nan area successful May, including to a spot wherever Rivas Hernandez's passport was recovered by a road worker, nan detective testified.

Prosecutors are seeking to beryllium Burke began a intersexual narration pinch Rivas Hernandez erstwhile she was 13 and he was 18.

They said successful a tribunal filing that she had grown suspicious of his relationships pinch different women and threatened to expose him and ruin his multimillion-dollar profession nan nighttime earlier she was killed. The tribunal filing said he sent a car to prime her up connected nan nighttime of April 23, 2025, and stabbed her erstwhile she arrived astatine his home.

Prosecutors opportunity he kept nan assemblage for weeks aliases months successful nan beforehand trunk of nan Tesla, wherever it was recovered aft nan car was towed 4 1/2 months later successful September.