D4vd murder case: Testimony focuses on singer's finances on 2nd day of preliminary hearing
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Testimony continued Wednesday in the key preliminary hearing for D4vd, who is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, with much of it focusing on the singer's finances as a potential motive in the teen's killing.
A money manager for D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, testified that he had heard only the first name of Rivas Hernandez before her dismembered body was found in the trunk of the singer's car in September 2025.
The defendant, who has been held without bail since his arrest, appeared in court in his orange jail clothes and glasses.
The testimony from Benjamin Gregor came on the second day of a preliminary hearing in a Los Angeles court to determine whether there is enough evidence to put Burke on trial on charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and mutilation of a body.
"I knew her first name," Gregor said.
The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman, later asked Gregor where he had heard the name Celeste. He said from Rob Morgenroth, D4vd's manager.
"Did he tell you she was his girlfriend?" Silverman asked, but objections prevented an answer.
Burke's lawyers have said he did not cause Rivas Hernandez's death, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors allege Burke fatally stabbed Rivas Hernandez to prevent her from revealing their relationship and ruining his career.
Gregor was one of two witnesses called to discuss Burke's finances, to indicate how much he had to lose, and whether the killing could have meant financial gain.
The singer reportedly grossed more than $10 million between 2023 and 2025.
But the questioning, which got increasingly heated, swerved into who among the people around Burke knew he was in a sexual relationship with the teen.
Silverman asked Gregor if he knew Burke had taken Rivas Hernandez to London with him, and to Texas to meet his family. He said he had heard about the London trip.
The prosecutor asked if he had heard about Burke taking Rivas Hernandez to nightclubs, with both of them using fake IDs. Burke only recently turned 21.
This drew angry objections from Burke's attorney, Marilyn Bednarski.
"Counsel is testifying!" she said.
Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, who will decide whether there is probable cause for trial, cut off the line of questioning.
Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Burke, an indie-pop singer whose music and online presence brought him a huge following, met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 and began a sexual relationship with her when she was 13 and he was 18.
Wednesday's testimony was far less graphic than the photographs showing Rivas Hernandez's decomposing and dismembered body that were shown in court on Tuesday. The images prompted audible reactions from those in attendance. Rivas Hernandez's parents were present in court but are not expected to testify during the preliminary hearing. Her mother covered her mouth as the photographs were shown.
WATCH: ABC News' Alex Stone reports on day 1 of singer D4vd's preliminary hearing
D4vd remained stoic during testimony about the dismembered body found in his impounded Tesla.
The hearing included graphic testimony from a police detective who responded to a Hollywood tow yard and found Rivas Hernandez's decomposing, dismembered body in D4vd's impounded vehicle. Her family members could be seen getting emotional as the detective described the horrific scene.
Following D4vd's arrest in April, the detective said he observed a "Shhh..." tattoo on the singer's right index finger and a "Celeste" tattoo on his left ring finger. Rivas Hernandez also had a "Shhh..." tattoo on her right index finger, and her left hand's ring and pinky fingers were missing, the detective said.
The prosecution contended in an April court filing that the singer "purchased tools to carry out his plot to dismember and dispose of the victim's body," including ordering a shovel, two chain saws, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags and a blue inflatable pool to be delivered to his home under a fake name.
Prosecutors say that in the days after the alleged murder, D4vd ordered two chainsaws, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags and a blue inflatable pool that investigators say was used to contain the teen's blood as she was dismembered.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
