A preliminary hearing in the murder trial of musician D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, saw prosecutors show the Los Angeles court graphic images of the dismembered body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to murdering and sexually abusing the teenager, whose severely decomposed remains were found in the boot of his Tesla last September; prosecutors allege he stabbed her and used a chainsaw to dismember her body in his garage in an attempt to cover up the killing, reportedly to stop her exposing his relationship with a minor.

Tuesday's hearing marked the first time evidence in the case had been made public, after previously being confined to court filings. A detective testified that Burke had bought a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool and a shovel online in the days following the death, and bodycam footage was played in which Burke told police he had believed Hernandez was 18 and had met her only once in person. The victim's parents attended and, according to their attorney Patrick Steinfeld, were "horrified" by images so graphic that a prosecutor reportedly had to ask what was being shown, as Hernandez's head was unrecognisable. The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to a full trial.