Indie musician D4vd has formally denied all allegations in a disturbing criminal case involving the death of a 14-year-old girl. During a court hearing on Wednesday, the singer entered not guilty pleas to three serious charges: murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The case centers on the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered last month under circumstances that investigators described as particularly gruesome. Prosecutors allege D4vd, whose legal name hasn't been disclosed in court documents, was responsible for both the killing and subsequent mutilation.
"The defendant has maintained his innocence from the beginning," said defense attorney Marcus Chen during a brief statement outside the courthouse. "We look forward to presenting evidence that will clear his name."
Prosecutors have indicated they will seek life imprisonment without parole if D4vd is convicted on all counts. The case has drawn significant attention both for the severity of the allegations and the defendant's rising profile in the music industry, where he gained recognition for his emotional bedroom-pop recordings.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for next month, where prosecutors are expected to present their initial evidence. The judge has issued a gag order preventing both legal teams from discussing case details publicly.