The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has called for D4vd to face the death penalty. The musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has been accused by prosecutors of killing Celeste, 14, and dismembering her body with a chainsaw.
It is claimed the dismembering took place in his garage after he purchased the tools required. The musician, 21, was charged with Celeste's murder in April this year.
Not guilty plea and discovery of body
Last month, he pleaded not guilty to murder charges. He had previously pleaded not guilty to murder and sexually abusing Celeste. Her body was found decomposed in the front boot of a Tesla registered in his name.
On Monday, which would have been Celeste's 16th birthday, her family issued a statement demanding that New York-born D4vd face the death penalty for the crimes he is accused of committing.
Family statement and civil lawsuit
In a statement, released through their family attorney, Celeste's family said: "If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter."
In a civil lawsuit, they are also suing D4vd for wrongful death, as well as accusing his mother and managers of negligence. In the new lawsuit, he faces allegations of wrongful death as well as battery, sexual battery, and childhood sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, human trafficking and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Legal proceedings and allegations
The lawsuit names D4vd's publishing and merchandising companies as additional defendants, claiming they were the vehicles that funded the alleged abuse. Management company Mogul Vision and D4vd's finance manager previously denied knowledge of Celeste and D4vd, the LA Times has reported.
After a five-day preliminary hearing in July, where a dozen witnesses were questioned and photographic evidence was displayed, a judge ruled that D4vd would go on trial for murder. His lawyers, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, all resigned as his legal defence.
A lawyer from the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office will now represent the musician. Prosecutors alleged that he stabbed Celeste before dismembering her body with a chainsaw to cover up the murder, after what is alleged to be several years of sexual abuse.
It is claimed that he murdered the teen after she allegedly threatened to speak about his relationship with a minor. D4vd has denied the charges and said he did not know that Celeste was a minor. He claims to have only met the teen, then 13, once in person.
At least 11 air fresheners were found in D4vd's Tesla. His DNA was also found on bags of rubbish relating to the case. Text messages, read out in court, indicated that Celeste was pregnant and had an abortion over a year before she was killed.
