As the court broke for an afternoon recess in Utah on Thursday, the mother of accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson rose from her seat red-eyed and visibly spent, a rare break in the restraint she had shown through hours of testimony. Robinson’s youngest brother offered comfort, wrapping an arm around Amber Robinson’s shoulder as she exhaled sharply and shrunk into his embrace.
Across the room, Tyler Robinson, 23, appeared in a different frame of mind, relaxed and animated as he spoke with one of his attorneys, smiling and nodding. Dressed in a pale gray suit, he was seen speaking with legal counsel, his hands clasped in front of him with handcuffs visible.
The tense family tableau unfolded on the fourth day of a five-day preliminary hearing to determine if Robinson will stand trial for the September 2025 murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Robinson faces aggravated murder and other charges, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
Prosecutors have suggested Robinson’s views shifted sharply in the months before Kirk’s death. According to charging documents, his mother told investigators he had become more political and supportive of gay and transgender rights in the year prior. He was also in a relationship with his roommate, Lance Twiggs, who identified as transgender, a relationship that prompted family discussions, particularly with Robinson’s father, whose political views differed from his son’s.
Thursday’s hearing centered on testimony from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner. A recorded interview with investigators was played in court, along with text messages exchanged between the former couple. Amber Robinson and Erika Kirk, the victim’s widow, audibly cried as some messages were read.
Twiggs, who was granted immunity for his cooperation, told investigators he saw Robinson the day after Kirk was shot. He described Robinson as nervous and restless inside their shared St. George apartment. The day before, Twiggs claimed he received a text from Robinson telling him to “drop what you’re doing” and “look under your keyboard.”
Prosecutors allege Robinson had left a note addressed to ‘Luna’ – another name used by Twiggs – stating: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.” The note added: “Please try and find joy in this life. I love you always, Tyler.” A photograph of the note was later mistakenly broadcast in the courtroom, causing visible anxiety for Amber Robinson.
Twiggs said he pressed Robinson via text about Kirk’s shooting, asking: “You weren’t the one who did it, right?” Robinson allegedly responded: “I am. I’m sorry.” When asked why, Robinson reportedly said he had “had enough” of Kirk’s “hatred” and that “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Robinson told Twiggs it was true when asked the following day, according to the interview played in court. Twiggs stated Robinson then began to cry, expressed regret, and said he intended to turn himself in.
The hearing also presented evidence prosecutors say physically tied Robinson to Kirk’s killing. For the first time, images were shown of the rifle prosecutors say Robinson used. As the image appeared, Amber Robinson appeared anxious, rolling her lips back and forth and huddling into her husband, Matt. Robinson leaned toward the monitor, appearing to study the weapon.
Authorities allegedly recovered ammunition from the scene with slogans engraved on the casings. One casing bore the message: “Hey fascist!” Another read: “Catch!” Twiggs had told investigators Robinson had asked him months before about a tool to engrave bullets, claiming it was for an upcoming hunting trip. After the shooting, Robinson allegedly told Twiggs the messages were “mostly a big meme” and joked about having a stroke if he saw one of the slogans reported on Fox News. Robinson’s mouth appeared to twitch as the engraved casings were displayed.
On Friday, the hearing’s final day, prosecutors played enhanced surveillance footage they say showed Robinson moving across Utah Valley University’s campus before the fatal shot. The footage included what prosecutors described as Robinson crawling into a prone position on a rooftop perch. Erika Kirk watched intently but turned away as the figure approached the roof’s edge, hugging Kirk's mother, who was crying.
The five-day hearing ended without an immediate ruling on whether Robinson will stand trial. Judge Tony Graf adjourned, setting final arguments for September 1, after both prosecutors and defense attorneys requested additional time to review transcripts and submit written briefs.
Outside the court, Sarah Aught, who was at Utah Valley University the day Kirk was killed, expressed a desire for the trial to begin, stating, “I want this guy, Tyler Robinson, to be in jail.” Jack Posobiec, a close friend of Kirk’s, supported the delay, insisting he supported “due process” and that the country deserves a fair trial, as Kirk would have wanted.
Posobiec likened watching the footage of the alleged movements before the shooting to seeing Kirk “die all over again.” He stated, “I don’t want any deals. Charlie didn’t get a deal.”
The Robinsons remained silent as they left court. Amber Robinson stopped to hug a loved one before disappearing into her hotel.