Attorneys for singer D4vd attacked the Los Angeles Police Department's investigative methods on Thursday, questioning why detectives failed to test certain items recovered from his home as they build their case for murder and child sexual abuse.
The cross-examination of LAPD criminalist Lauren Wallace marked the third day of a preliminary hearing to determine whether the musician, born David Anthony Burke, will face trial. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death to prevent her from revealing the sexual nature of their relationship as his music career gained momentum.
Defense attorney Blair Berk pressed Wallace on the decision to leave items untested, including chainsaws found in Burke's garage. Berk's line of questioning appeared designed to introduce reasonable doubt about whose DNA might be present at the scene.
"You were aware that multiple people lived at this residence, right?" Berk asked Wallace, referring to the Hollywood Hills house where Burke lived.
"Yes, we were aware," Wallace responded.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
Earlier in the hearing, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting blood traces were detected in various areas of Burke's former residence and his Tesla. On Wednesday, a California Highway Patrol officer testified that a Caltrans worker discovered a passport bearing Rivas Hernandez's name and photograph on a dirt embankment off State Route 154 in Santa Barbara in January 2026.
During cross-examination of that officer, defense attorney Regina Peter questioned the evidence chain by asking whether investigators had ruled out the possibility that weather or storms could have carried the passport to that location.
A detective took the stand Thursday and testified that cellular data and Tesla system records showed Burke traveled to the area where the passport was found, prosecutors said.
The hearing is expected to wrap up by early next week.
Author James Rodriguez: "The defense is playing a smart game here, poking at procedure rather than attacking the big picture evidence, but whether that strategy survives discovery of the full evidence package is another question."
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