Gruesome images in D4vd hearing are 'worst nightmare' for teen girl's family

The court hears the singer ordered a body bag, chainsaws and an inflatable pool to dispose of the teen's body. Preliminary hearing begins in singer D4vd's murder case WARNING: Readers may find details in this article distressing. Gruesome images of a teenage girl's dismembered corpse have been shown in court before her horrified parents on the opening day of a preliminary hearing in the murder case against the singer who performs under the stage name D4vd.

Prosecutors presented graphic crime scene photos showing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body when it was found last year inside a Tesla registered to singer David Anthony Burke in Hollywood, Los Angeles. A homicide detective testified that Burke, 21, had ordered a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool and a shovel online in the days after Celeste's death. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering and sexually abusing the girl.

The grisly details had previously only been described in court filings. Tuesday's hearing marked the first time that the evidence and photographs were shown publicly in court. Although this is not the trial itself, prosecutors are laying out the evidence they say links Burke to Celeste's death as they seek to convince the judge there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

They allege he killed her because she had threatened to reveal his relationship with a minor and destroy his multi-million dollar music career. For Celeste's parents, it was an ordeal they had prepared themselves for but could never fully anticipate, according to their lawyer. "This is the first time they've heard this evidence in detail, and they're horrified, the family's attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, told the BBC after the court hearing.

"There was an image of Celeste's torso and her head in the trunk of the car, and the prosecutor had to ask what it was because you could not tell it was a head. It was absolutely deplorable. "They're at a loss for words and they're just trying to do the best they can.

"I told her she didn't have to be in the courtroom for this part of the hearing, he said. "But she said, 'I want to be here to show support for Celeste. She just put her head down and started crying.

He said he had advised both parents that once they saw the images, they would never be able to "unsee" them. "I encouraged them to step out for a short period of time, and they decided no - they wanted to be here to show they're supporting their daughter. "They're an extremely private family, he added.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare. The small downtown Los Angeles courtroom was packed long before Tuesday's hearing began. Journalists, YouTubers, TikTok creators and members of the public had entered a lottery for one of the limited number of seats to watch the proceedings.

There was a palpable sense of anticipation in the room. The constant chatter stopped when Burke was brought in. Wearing an orange jail uniform, he was shackled at the wrists and ankles.