### Content Warning: This Story Contains Graphic Descriptions of an Alleged Murder
D4vd's legal journey continues as the singer (real name David Anthony Burke) appeared in court three days after being charged with one count of murder, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains regarding the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. (He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.)
During the April 23 hearing, per NBC News, Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County Beth Silverman alleged that the prosecution has discovered a "significant amount" of child sex abuse images on an iCloud account belonging to D4vd. As of the time of the hearing, only one terabyte of the eight on the account had been downloaded. The prosecution noted that protocol doesn't allow them to turn over the sensitive images to D4vd's team, but that defense attorneys can review the evidence on a secure computer in the justice center. E! News has reached out to attorneys for D4vd for comment but has not yet heard back.
Previously, his legal team expressed its commitment to proving his innocence in Celeste's death. "The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death," his attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter told E! News in an April 20 statement. "We will vigorously defend David's innocence."
Absent from the hearing were members of Celeste's family. Ahead of the court date, they told TMZ through their attorney that they were suffering "profound emotional pain" after reviewing the "horrible and gruesome" autopsy findings, which were released on April 22.
A news release shared by the County of Los Angeles' Medical Examiner confirmed the manner of death for Celeste, whose body was found the day after her 15th birthday, to be "multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)" and that the manner of death was homicide. The autopsy report, obtained by E! News, specified the penetrating wounds were on Celeste's left chest and upper abdomen, and that there were presumptive positives for benzodiazepines (a medication used to treat anxiety and seizures) and methamphetamine/MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly) in the teenager's system.
While the cause and manner of death were determined in December, per the release, a court order originating with the LAPD prevented the Department of Medical Examiner from releasing its findings until now. "After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss," read a statement from Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo in the release. "It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."
D4vd was arrested on suspicion of Celeste's murder on April 16, seven months after her remains were found in a Tesla registered in his name. In addition to his charges of murder, sexual abuse, and mutilation of human remains, the criminal complaint against the "Romantic Homicide" singer also includes a "special allegation" that he "personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime."
In an April 20 press release, L.A. County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman shared further insight into D4vd's alleged crimes. "Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her," he said in the release. "But Burke's actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body, and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car."
D4vd remains in custody without bail as the legal process progresses.
