The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has said it would support the de@th penalty for singer D4vd if he is convicted of k!lling the 14-year-old girl.
The 21-year-old singer, real name David Burke, is set to face trial for the April 2025 slaying of the 14-year-old girl.
Her family said in a statement to the New York Post: ‘If the de@th 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.’
‘But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s, and the California justice system.’
The decision of whether to implement the de@th penalty will be made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Rivas’s dismembered remains were discovered almost exactly one year ago.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to Rivas’s murd£r, as well as to charges of child s£x abuse and mutilation in connection with her de@th.
The new development comes after the music artist’s attorneys withdrew from his case last week.
Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter told the judge overseeing the trial that they could no longer represent the singer.
‘This morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel,’ they said in a statement to TMZ.
‘We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,’ the lawyers continued.
‘We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.’
In a statement to the LA Times, LA County Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel said: ‘We recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving.
‘At the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence. We are committed to providing him with that defense.’