David Anthony Burke’s new public defender wants face-to-face access to the jailed singer, saying the two need to sit down privately and go through the evidence prosecutors may use against him.
Burke, better known as D4vd, remains behind bars as he awaits trial in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Los Angeles obtained court records that show his Los Angeles County public defender successfully asked a judge for an order allowing attorneys to meet privately with Burke inside the jail (without glass or fencing between them) and… to bring a laptop into the meeting.
According to Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel, the requests are necessary so he can review the large amount of evidence in the case with his client. Kandeel wrote in a Sept. 15 declaration that he needs to examine all of the discovery prosecutors may use against Burke, specifically pointing to “social media content” and “possible video evidence.”
“In order to do that, I need to meet with Mr. Burke face-to-face in a private area of the jail facility,” Kandeel wrote, explaining that he also needs permission to bring his laptop.
Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo granted the request, ordering the Los Angeles County ...