Defending D4vd?! How is That Possible? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 31, 2026 · 28 MIN

Defending D4vd?! How is That Possible?

from It's A Crime with Margaret McLean · host Margaret McLean

Send us Fan MailHow do you defend someone the public may have already convicted in the court of public opinion? In this episode, I’m joined  by prominent Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Silva Megerditchian to break down the explosive case against David Burke, known professionally as D4vd.Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged David with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, along with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The victim is Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered last September  after his Tesla was towed and impounded near his  rented Hollywood Hills residence while he was away on tour. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bail, facing a possible sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.Burke is facing allegations that have shocked the public:First-degree murderDismemberment and concealment of a 14-year-old girl’s bodyAlleged statutory rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14Special circumstance allegations including lying in wait and murder of a witnessAs a former prosecutor, I’ll translate what’s happening behind the scenes in this case, while Silva Megerditchian provides the perspective of an experienced LA criminal defense attorney who understands how high-profile murder cases are fought in California courtrooms.Together, we’ll tackle the difficult legal questions:How do defense attorneys approach a case this emotionally charged?Has D4vd already been “tried by the media”?What evidence actually matters in court—and what may unfairly prejudice a jury?How does the defense challenge a circumstantial case involving digital evidence, forensic evidence, and motive?And could California’s newer law limiting the use of rap lyrics and creative expression impact this case?We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution:We’ll also discuss one of the biggest controversies surrounding this prosecution:Can D4vd’s disturbing song lyrics—including “Romantic Homicide”—actually be used against him in court?California recently passed legislation making it more difficult for prosecutors to introduce lyrics as evidence, recognizing concerns about artistic expression, unfair prejudice, and jurors confusing persona with proof.We’ll break down:When lyrics may become admissible evidenceHow judges balance artistic freedom against relevanceAnd whether prosecutors could argue the lyrics reflect motive, intent, or state of mindThis is a serious legal breakdown from both sides of the courtroom.#D4vd #TrueCrime #LegalAnalysis #CriminalDefense #CelesteRivasHerdandez #deathpenalty #Highprofiletrials #BreakingNews #MurderCase #DavidBurke #Romantichomicide

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 31, 2026

Embed this episode

Send us Fan Mail How do you defend someone the public may have already convicted in the court of public opinion? In this episode, I’m joined by prominent Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Silva Megerditchian to break down the explosive case against David Burke, known professionally as D4vd. Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged David with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, along with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawf...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

Defending D4vd?! How is That Possible?

0:00 28:20

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of It's A Crime with Margaret McLean?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this It's A Crime with Margaret McLean episode published?

This episode was published on May 31, 2026.

Can I download this It's A Crime with Margaret McLean episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!