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The family of Celeste Rivas exited the courtroom before the gory details of the teen girl’s autopsy were revealed.
Rivas’ parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, were both in attendance in the Los Anegeles courtroom for the majority of Thursday’s preliminary hearing — where singer D4vd, real name David Burke is accused of murdering Celeste.
However, just before Grant Ho, the Deputy Medical Examiner, took the stand, both parents left the courtroom. The family attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, stayed in the courtroom.
Ho detailed Rivas’ body as only weighing 71 pounds during the autopsy. “The body was markedly decomposed,” he said, adding there was “trauma to body, particularly the extremities.” Ho also said Rivas’ braces were discovered during the exam.
Rivas was only 14 when she was allegedly stabbed to death by Burke who then allegedly cut her body into several pieces and stuffed it into bags, loading it into his Tesla.
Rivas’ parents watched in horror Tuesday as horrific images of her decapitated and mutilated corpse were displayed in a court.
The 14-year-old’s family ignored their attorney’s request to look away as the shocking images were displayed in a Los Angeles courtroom during the first day of the singer’s preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
The devastated couple were later spotted crying in the hall of the courthouse after viewing their daughter’s severed limbs, head, torso and fingers allegedly found in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla.
Rivas’ parents sat only feet from D4vd as the evidence was displayed.
“They wanted to show strength and they’re here for Celeste, but it was extremely bad,” Steinfeld said outside the courthouse Tuesday, adding that the teen’s mom broke down crying.
“They’re at a loss of words and they’re just trying to do the best they can as parents,” he said.
Testimony from Ho is expected to continue Friday.
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