All articles tagged with #murder case
A Texas judge who presided over Karmelo Anthony’s murder conviction was removed ahead of a key hearing on a possible retrial, after defense attorneys argued his conduct in court—including a TV interview in which he defended courtroom rules and said the jury “got it right”—could affect the fairness of a new-trial bid.
In Los Angeles, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, charged with murdering his parents, is arguing that he should access the roughly $1.63 million set aside for him in a trust created by his parents. A probate trustee disclosed that about $200,000 of the trust has been spent so far, including undisclosed amounts for his previous defense attorney; his attorney previously resigned but could rejoin the case if finances are resolved. A trustee opposes further withdrawals under California's Slayer statute, which bars killers from benefiting from their crimes. Reiner’s team contends he’s entitled to the funds since he hasn’t been convicted, and the judge did not rule on the matter, scheduling another hearing for Oct. 23.
Nick Reiner has already spent about $200,000 on lawyers in a civil probate dispute over access to a $1.5 million trust left by his parents, a matter separate from his murder case for allegedly stabbing them. A judge moved the hearing to Oct. 23 as his attorney seeks to gain control of the trust to fund his defense and basic expenses; the trustee contends funds were properly withheld and that Nick never authorized withdrawal. He remains in custody facing criminal charges that could bring life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
Nick Reiner is in a civil court clash with the trustee of his parents’ trust over access to roughly $550,000–$1.6 million earmarked for his 30th‑birthday distribution to fund his murder defense. The trustee says the distribution never left the trust and may be withheld under California law depending on the outcome of his criminal case, while Reiner maintains the money should be released to hire top defense lawyers; a Monday LA hearing will address eligibility and why funds were not disbursed as the criminal case proceeds, with mediation possible.
Rolling Stone surveys D4vd (David Burke), a Gen Z pop star whose meteoric rise is shadowed by allegations that he sexually abused 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, stabbed her to death in his Hollywood Hills home, and dismembered her body to cover up the crime. Prosecutors point to a year-long pattern of abuse, a pregnancy and abortion, and a premeditated disposal of evidence in a Tesla; online chats, alter-ego imagery, and other evidence are cited as part of the case. Burke was arrested in April 2025 on charges including first-degree murder and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, facing life in prison or the death penalty if convicted, with a trial date not yet set.
During a five-day preliminary hearing, prosecutors revealed a complex relationship between D4vd’s David Burke and 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, including text messages about pregnancy, an abortion, and threats to expose him, which prosecutors cite as a possible motive. No murder weapon was recovered and the exact manner of the killing remains unclear, leaving room for defense arguments like self-defense or crime-of-passion. Burke’s next court date is Aug. 31 for arraignment, with trial timing uncertain; while prosecutors could seek the death penalty, California’s moratorium makes life without parole the likely outcome if convicted.
During a hearing on whether D4vd will stand trial for first-degree murder, lewd acts with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains, his lawyers challenged how investigators tested evidence from his Hollywood Hills home, including why chainsaws weren’t tested, even as prosecutors point to blood traces at the home and in his Tesla. Additional details presented include a passport found along Route 154 and cell data linking Burke to the area, with the hearing expected to conclude early next week.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles say rapper d4vd (David Burke) murdered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 after a contentious relationship, describing a brutal sequence in which she was stabbed to death, dismembered, and her remains disposed of in a blue inflatable pool and later in the trunk of his Tesla; they cite text messages showing Celeste’s jealousy and alleged threats to expose information about their relationship, which began when she was a minor. Celeste’s remains were found in September 2025. d4vd has pleaded not guilty to murder with special circumstances and related charges; the defense contends evidence will prove his innocence.
A Montana judge held prosecutors in contempt for public remarks about the Tyler Robinson murder case, ruling that while some statements didn’t violate a narrowly tailored publicity order, others claiming there was ample evidence beyond a reasonable doubt risked prejudicing the jury; the ruling emphasizes restricting pre-trial commentary to protect the fairness of the proceedings.
Nick Reiner, son of Rob and Michelle Reiner, seeks to access a $1.5 million trust set up decades ago to pay for his murder-defense after being charged with his parents’ killings. He filed a petition in LA Superior Court asking the trustee and incoming trustee to release funds—arguing the money belongs to him and isn’t estate assets—so he can hire top defense counsel. A hearing is scheduled for August 17. The dispute underscores questions over mandatory trust distributions and who controls funds used for a defendant’s legal defense.
Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner, is seeking access to a $1.5 million family trust via a probate petition to pay for a murder-defense attorney in his upcoming trial for his parents’ deaths. He claims the trust requires distributions at age 30 and again at 35 and accuses the current trustee of withholding funds; Reiner, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first‑degree murder with special circumstances, remains in custody with a public defender after a prior attorney withdrew, with a September court date.
Nick Reiner, Rob Reiner’s son, has petitioned a Los Angeles court to release at least $1.5 million from a trust his parents established for him, saying he needs the funds to mount his defense in the killings of his father and mother; the trustee has declined to disclose the exact amount and has raised concerns about his competence, with the case advancing toward a September pretrial and potential death-penalty consideration.
Prosecutors say D4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez first connected online in 2022; their relationship reportedly became sexual in 2023 when Celeste was 13 and D4vd was 18, with ongoing sexual contact after a supposed breakup. Authorities allege he lured her to his Los Angeles home, murdered her in late April 2025, dismembered her, and kept remains in the trunk of his Tesla for months, making the sexual nature of the relationship a central motive. The story is developing as court proceedings unfold.
Jay Bryant pleaded guilty in federal court in the Eastern District of New York to murder for his role in the 2002 killing of Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell), saying he helped let the gunmen into Mizell’s Queens recording studio. Prosecutors say he knew a gun would be used. The plea follows the convictions (and appeals) of Mizell’s godson Karl Jordan Jr. and associate Ronald Washington, underscoring years of legal action in the case.
A 14-year-old Lake Elsinore girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was found dead and dismembered in the Tesla of alt-pop singer d4vd. David Burke (d4vd) was arrested and arraigned in April 2026 on first‑degree murder charges with special circumstances that could invoke the death penalty. Prosecutors allege a prolonged sexual relationship and abuse of Celeste lasting from 2023 to 2024, with her death described as involving multiple penetrating injuries and even severed fingers per autopsy findings. Celeste’s family mourns privately, while the defense says Burke is innocent and will present evidence to that effect. The case has drawn attention to the vulnerable experiences of minors around celebrity in Southern California.}