@meghannmcuniff: An attorney for the family of a 14-year-old girl who prosecutors say was murdered by singer D4vd criticized defense attorneys today for implying the girl harmed herself. Patrick Steinfeld spoke to reporters after Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled probable cause supports the three charges against the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. Burke is accused of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025, whom he’s also accused of sexually abusing, then dismembering her and hiding her remains in the front trunk of his Tesla. The remains were found in the car after it was impounded to a tow yard in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, 2025. Steinfeld said Burke’s lawyers, Blair Berk and Marilyn Bednarski, “made allegations that didn't have any evidentiary basis, including the assertion that Celeste may have committed suicide, or that Celeste was violent, and I personally found that very disturbing.” “It seems that the defense attorneys are stopping at nothing in an attempt to discredit the prosecution's evidence, and the family was horrified that the defense attorneys brought up evidence to put the blame on a 14-year-old child,” Steinfeld said. Steinfeld said Burke “has taken the position that Celeste said she was 18,” but a sheriff’s deputy went to his home in February 2024 and told him she was 13. “This is a strict liability crime, meaning that if he's 18 and she's 13, and they're having sexual relations, that is automatically a crime. He does not have a defense. However, he had direct knowledge of Celeste's age and continued in their sexual relationship,” Steinfeld said. Judge Olmedo ordered Burke to stay in jail without bail. #law #crime #court
Meghann Cuniff
Region: US
Monday 27 July 2026 23:37:31 GMT
Music
Download
Comments
Mo_Camargo298 :
This attorney patrick Seinfeld fights for people who dont have a voice!!! He is a wrongful death attorney and he is passionate about bringing justice to his clients that are no longer here! Justice for celeste!!
2026-07-28 20:23:28
1
user4405002920722 :
He did the crime now he needs to do the time
2026-07-28 21:32:02
0
ShaunPTheNewTrill :
Both families should be charged
2026-07-28 03:55:55
34
Winter Hue :
The defense attorneys are going to be defense attorneys. It is their job to defend and represent their client with anything possible within the bounds of the law. It was a preliminary hearing. They are allowed to bring up whatever they think will sway the judge, present "evidence", or make motions to diminish the prosecution's case. It sounds like the prosecution was able to swat those down and the judge ruled against the defense. In fact this press conference is kind of scummy bc it could potentially affect future jurors and disseminate information publicly.
But regardless this is the prosecutor (or at least I think he is the prosecutor and not just a representative of Celeste's family) complaining that the defense is doing their job. Were the accusations distasteful? Sure, but not against the law or unheard of in court cases especially murder cases. They should not expect the defense to roll over even if they believe they the case in the bag.
2026-07-28 15:12:59
3
hellosunnay12 :
Both parent should be charged as well. Y’all knew about it!!!!
2026-07-28 20:47:57
0
Dannie_shante :
Well what about the mom given permission for her to go places w/ him ?
2026-07-28 00:49:14
6
Lovely Keo :
Turning it on someone who is no longer with us is just f’d up. So wrong in so many ways. It doesn’t matter if she was threatening him or whatever lame excuse they use. She’s a child! Child! Who Was chopped up in pieces. She obviously cannot do it to herself. She’s not some possessed demon. His defense is just … pathetic at this point. He needs to be locked up for his crime and whoever else that is involved.
2026-07-28 12:40:38
2
Endo_at_tiffanys :
From a legal perspective; Why won’t the family come out and admit to their part of negligence in this? At least they can jump ahead of the bs the defense is going to try.
2026-07-28 00:27:16
7
sleepysamurai__ :
A barely 14 year old. A child.
2026-07-28 04:20:26
6
Avenger.OG 🥷🏾🥋 :
Was Celeste Parents Horrified When Celeste Took It Upon Herself At 13 Years Of Age To Drop Out Of School Permanently? Where They Horrified Or Offended That Celeste Ask Them To: submit a notarized travel authorization showing that Celeste's parents gave written consent for her to travel to London with D4vd for a week in 2024 without any other family members present 🤔 Where Celeste Parents Horrified When: D4VD attended church and theme parks with their family 🤔 Was It You Sir Who Gave Council To Celeste's father, Jesus Rivas, who claimed through this same family attorney Patrick Steinfeld that he had never had contact with the singer and that the family never received money from him or the family's awareness and Celeste's misrepresentation of her age 🤔 This Family Should Also Be Charged With Endangerment Of Child’s Welfare Along With Child Trafficking & Abandonment 🤔
2026-07-28 18:40:32
0
maurice :
They didn’t prove murder
2026-07-28 04:06:09
0
QUEENTULSIGODSFAVORITE👸🙏🇺🇸 :
Justice for Celeste 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
2026-07-28 12:41:53
2
divinecosmicmind :
In fairness to the defence they are paid to do a job so they will do what they can by any means necessary as bad as it is. Also we know that there is very little chance with the evidence they have that he is going to win this case but they will do what they can to discredit the prosecution’s evidence in any way they can
2026-07-28 08:48:54
0
Daniel Garcia Allen applegate :
according to an LA detective the family knew of the relationship, parents are also to blame
2026-07-28 05:44:01
0
beosje :
Yasss exactly
2026-07-28 03:17:45
0
Spoiled :
Both families need to be charyand her dad lied
2026-07-28 11:22:10
0
Dolly :
Both sides are doing their job amazingly. Being an attorney is a vicious game of chess. Her family's attorney has no leg to stand on but is still getting paid so boo hoo sir you shouldn't have taken the case if you wanna cry about it now that you know your paying clients are culpable and can be brought up on charges too.
2026-07-28 17:50:05
1
nocontextcash :
I mean their probably best defense is she threatened him, she came with a knife and he turned it on her 🤷♀️
2026-07-28 04:25:51
1
BloomDS :
🥰🥰🥰
2026-07-28 01:17:03
0
To see more videos from user @meghannmcuniff, please go to the Tikwm
homepage.