Attorneys for singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, questioned law enforcement's testing of evidence found in his home during a hearing for murder and child sexual abuse charges. Lawyers suggested other individuals' DNA might have been missed.
The defense's challenge to the evidence testing procedures could impact whether the case proceeds to trial, potentially affecting the prosecution's ability to secure a conviction against the singer D4vd.
Attorneys for the singer D4vd, whose birth name is David Anthony Burke, are challenging the methods used by law enforcement to test evidence found in his home. The scrutiny occurred during the third day of a hearing to determine if Burke will stand trial for murder and child sexual abuse charges.
Prosecutors allege that Burke fatally stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez last year to prevent her from exposing the sexual nature of their relationship as his music career was rising. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, "lewd and lascivious acts" with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
During the hearing, defense attorney Blair Berk questioned Lauren Wallace, a criminalist for the Los Angeles police department, about why certain items, such as chainsaws found in Burke's garage, were not tested. Berk suggested that DNA from other individuals might have been present and overlooked, noting that multiple people lived at the residence.
Earlier in the week, a California highway patrol officer testified about a passport bearing Rivas Hernandez’s name and photograph being found on a dirt embankment. Defense attorney Regina Peter questioned whether the possibility of the passport arriving there due to weather conditions had been ruled out.
On Thursday, a detective testified that cellular data and a Tesla system indicated Burke had traveled to the area where the victim's passport was discovered. The hearing is expected to conclude early next week.