# D4vd legal team abruptly withdraws, singer taps public defender for murder trial

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-31 18:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Singer D4vd switches to a public defender after his celebrity legal team abruptly withdraws from a murder case involving 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

## Intelligence Brief
The singer known as D4vd is facing a murder trial concerning the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to reports from KXAN Austin and CBS News, D4vd has entered a plea of not guilty in the case. This legal proceeding has reached a critical juncture as the singer's previous legal representatives, described as prominent and celebrity lawyers, have abruptly withdrawn from the case. As a result of this departure, D4vd will now be represented by a public defender for the duration of the trial. Extensive coverage of the development is being provided by several major news organizations, including AP News, BBC, and NBC News.


These outlets emphasize the sudden nature of the legal team's withdrawal and the transition to court-appointed counsel. Yahoo and Yahoo News Canada have specifically highlighted the loss of the prominent lawyers who were previously defending the singer in the killing of the teenager. Rolling Stone has further detailed the singer's not guilty plea and the subsequent switch to a public defender as the murder trial looms. The context of the case centers on the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 14 years old. The legal stakes have intensified following a judge's order for D4vd to stand trial, as reported by ABC News.


The transition from a high-profile celebrity legal team to a public defender occurs just as the singer returns to court for an arraignment, a detail noted by NewsNation. The sudden lack of private counsel introduces a new dynamic to the defense strategy as the proceedings move toward the trial phase. Observers will be watching the immediate court proceedings as D4vd returns to the legal system. Based on the provided coverage, the next critical steps involve the singer's arraignment and the preparation for the murder trial under the guidance of his new public defender. The court has already ordered that the singer stand trial, and the timing of the legal team's exit suggests a compressed timeline for the new defense to prepare for the upcoming proceedings regarding the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| LAmag | D4vd Back in Court as Attorney Blair Berk Withdraws | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxOaXU5bkllb05vWmpZa3daTmZHc2U2RGFoVTVBZTVjbUZScDN1MTNqZ1RLTlpieDlNWC1QZUJzSXlMYWR4UGlQRkppQ1g5Z09UWk9ZNHVJLWZzSGNCVDlIa1d4VWZtVHhsZTh3cXpqd3ZYUnRiVWhTTF9kNXdXb3l4OE5HM2phMjc0SHRxaXZvZmxYblF3SldzcG9B?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Singer D4vd loses prominent lawyers defending him in killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxNOFAtSUhlNmtlbHJxN0c3allOMjZPSi1DOVR4OTBHSmZyWFVSOGFvOGdEX3JEOUp1NEZhSkphVjlTVU5qczg5bUtGOWlOXzJkZENWeDZkUkNzZDU1dnRObFhhX3pDY09OV25MZTVEQ0hCM3BPT3I2NjdTZUZGYlVZdWlSaUpFd1BRZTgzM0lhejJfXzg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | D4vd Returns to Court With Murder Trial Now Looming | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQREM0REJvb2VmS3lCN2RUM1k4bE51em04TkRnV25XY0JrTUdhMHZjSkRIRENsT3pmLWMxb1VadGlDRFNGRktEYWwwRktnZ09Rdkg4SUhEN05lb3VsQU40aXBtRm5KNkcyQ2dCWmFrR3BzbFJLeU13SWNraWM2V3VjUGVDUU9RdVd6d2lsRTY0YXRVRmRPam4zbG5sTm5aZWV0SUxN?oc=5) |
| KXAN Austin | D4vd pleads not guilty in Celeste Hernandez murder case; will be represented by public defender | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0AFBVV95cUxOVVNxc1hmaVRXSE50VDIySGUyVk1LbGIzdm1md2JYeEF3ZEdFd2ZPTy10X1YzSmFHOXczUVB2dXEyTG1sYlZFQXlHcVZiZnpJaHpNaFQzV2duOWtRdVFMX25uNkJ6a2dZLW9ZN1RTWUdJd3IxVV9Ia2xzSG5IRlBwTERVOEZDMHpEc3AwbjJic0ZJY2FPcUxZb3gxbU1oOXBFYm5UVmdCeHFld3JMWklITXRLaEpsLTNDVFZjUVdpaFYtVlhQaktMYTNuRHdnOWM30gHWAUFVX3lxTE9BQm5BZ29hNHpKLS1wRXl5UzlWY183cGlBVmdOVUhZdHEycXJGbHpoc0pMcDZKbDQ0dkYxM1U1Ym5mbUE3X0hITExWR1lxd1FwWlhHN2ZPeHA0NkxpUDRCOGFHMldFcDJMak1VbUtaM2VGVXQzXzVqcDA2bkVHcjB2dkZ) |
| Yahoo | D4vd’s attorneys withdraw from murder case | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxQeTJ4SU5KMmZvcHhsaDE3S1loZ3FXZ0o3WXJpMWN0TTZiazV4RFQ3NkppMlJXS2dRLVlvR0dUMFoyWkMwbUNTbWd5a29oaHBWVXctVWFjM016WUh5WUwzbTFET3U3eG41R21ENEswa2JWTjZOYWxtQVBOVllXOTFHblB5SXlYOXpGN252SWRjMnZWY2doeE8ybHFicVlEZGUzalluRHo0SzY?oc=5) |
| CBS News | D4vd pleads not guilty in Celeste Rivas Hernandez murder case as defense team withdraws | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOREU0WjRfVFVaS1BJc1k2VDItYWlTMVFJYkM1V0xSdl9uaTJGNEkzaEVGUjF6dFo4anpoam5CTnJ1dGRkaGg1NzEzbEROYnlQSURNTVZ5clhjYjJScE5tQmFPVHRDLVBoLWk4bzR2dkFwZVBTemcwT2h1TWoxZUMxMUJpVlBRcmNW?oc=5) |
| AP News | Singer D4vd loses prominent lawyers defending him in killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxOMW5iRHBUMGFrZUs1UjlFTjNsT0cyRTA3V2dhWV9VOGxOZVZzejVOQVVnaThRYkJYMDVWZUFkbVRjLVo2bGRxN0ZvUmpBUW9qZjlqcEhkWUVDY1p4eFZ6NElOa2dvcm1DVmw1dEotblVmWExaeVg2eHBlNWUyTmVFQ2dvMzU4bE1uajlHaWRmWVJER1NLdEI3eFU2U0NYZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo News Canada | US singer D4vd's celebrity lawyers withdraw from murder case | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTE54R09oX1EtdWF2Zk4tNTNBclR1TmJOTVRsc2stLVpadHVqZXVHMW93THZiSTd0Mmt2VlRkTDY1ejBocDVlbDZKSTVLNXAwSVQ2anE1MnhqNVlKektSN0VCbWk1WUNWNzBiTFVKZ1pWZzVVczRHRjF2SlVKRU1BclU?oc=5) |
| Rolling Stone | D4vd Pleads Not Guilty in Teen Murder Case, Switches to Public Defender | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxQM3UyREQ0bDZUN0pkc1I3M2tHaFRkMkNpY2d6QUxwWDJ0V1FadWlCZER2Zkx6VHBzMjVOb2VzaFV3NlFzMUlZS3ZlVm1pS1ZLQTNfeE8xZnZDTUNYaWw0QkZMb1I2TjVuS0c3WmRwSFlTRkVtZUV2Um1SVFlMRlhGdkpyWmlUNXVHUFREUUVhempnREtpZnlzdGJadE4?oc=5) |
| NewsNation | D4vd to be arraigned in death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQSXU2OHAtZzRYeHdudHF6c3VkTWNSdnBTakhJZTU2WGZTNFpEM2FtZFRZWmR1SGlwVkpCQWY5ZU0yNGdseGxaNm5tcEVZNllTSEdpZUktS3ZNRGlNdWZOQy1MZm5xb01VZ0NDSmtPZ0xRY0k3SHE4NnhkTzF1ZVlUeElxb0ZwV19aOE9Yb9IBkgFBVV95cUxQUm5odnNVVGxfMm43ZXYxWUdrRHhnY0VuaFZlYTRob3M4OVY1TGx5NWtlQlBSdndETlNZYUlteGJZMGFhWThPWXVVeE9KOVFhYkMycGExc3VHT3lZRlZ0ZG5yMlB1VzlLVGZ1Zmp1Z1o1TGJ2M3JVQ1F3cVhHZzJwU1dUd0lodG5SY25UQzduZjgxZw?oc=5) |
| ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos | D4vd set to return to court after judge orders him to stand trial in murder case | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxOWmNoeU9idEc4MUdYMi10WVcxR2tzWkJQMDltdkRQbGZmb09uOEdISy1uVGZiNDZ2Rzh0bGIyR3hKaFF4YmpxUEs1d3FCV2g3RjNvZzRsWlJ6ZHFJYnZtTC15MG5uUkRSSmprRjZJc09tSEVScTVMbldwOWNfcHlwOE5ra3BMbk9sYlI3ME9lb3ZnUdIBlwFBVV95cUxQeGUxZGl3QlFtWHFZNldUSnBqalIwQ1BWcWtCcndsMGdfVVROdkFiTmwxc0dub0FwQWRON0UybG0zWlFYeVlhTURjcnplNFh2Qm9uQldfSUNvX0p3NFAxLTFNcTctdEswQ2JWejJFWThmN1pZX0lFenN3TnlJbnJrM28ya2h0U1htYzdsZU9LZHBnUk0zMERZ?oc=5) |
| BBC | US singer D4vd's celebrity lawyers withdraw from murder case | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTE5rMUc3b1ZTTjZrVGNZaTNNSVV0MTM1NklINzZwUGtmZ3pIWXctanJJTm5tSl9tVldJeU5BMk14c3dUOW1Sdl9Vd0hhUkg1UHhESWV3QmxzTmNXdw?oc=5) |
| NBC News | D4vd legal team abruptly withdraws, singer taps public defender for murder trial | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxOV21pLU1sTTBMM3REOU8xc3FiR0tqVWMxOWgtODk4aGJRdlVQbmlDZFRNSG9PMGJKRGU5TW1INFpZX3pTLTliUXA0WUpHZjdWejItYWk1LTJJam93WGtWYUlzclUyZXdOZWJ2LS10V2hUOU5Oa19TNHQyY2EzMWJtX1NnYjdFYzBDRC1TWV9jMndBdWdDMUxFMFV6SzlLRGNtQjJ3RHBJVjVHc29ibS00ZWh3?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-31/d4vd-legal-team-abruptly-withdraws-singer-taps-public-defender-for-murder-trial*