Prosecutors in Utah presented a video in court showing Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, after Robinson turned himself in to authorities. The video, played Wednesday during a preliminary hearing, depicted Robinson in a room at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap. An investigator stated that he spoke to Robinson that night to obtain his name and date of birth.
State District Judge Tony Graf is presiding over the weeklong preliminary hearing, which aims to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Much of Wednesday's proceedings were dedicated to arguments over whether prosecutors could play a recorded law enforcement interview with Lance Twiggs, Robinson's roommate and romantic partner. Judge Graf indicated he would allow redacted audio of Twiggs' statements on Thursday. The judge will then decide if the evidence warrants bringing Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge in Kirk’s shooting on the campus of Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea. His attorneys have sought to have the death penalty removed as a possibility, without success thus far. They have also expressed concerns about Robinson's right to a fair trial if Twiggs' statements were played in open court and broadcast by media outlets, arguing it could prejudice potential jurors. Attorneys for Kirk’s family and media representatives urged the judge to make Twiggs' statements and other evidence public, citing the importance of transparency in the judicial system.
Prosecutors allege Robinson sent a text message to Twiggs stating he targeted Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred." State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis testified that Twiggs was interviewed twice and was granted immunity for his statements. Prosecutors contend that Robinson confessed in a note left for Twiggs, which read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it." Investigators claim Robinson shot Kirk once through the neck from a rooftop near where the activist was speaking to a crowd.
Robinson's defense team has raised questions about the reliability of DNA testing used to link him to the suspected murder weapon. During the hearing, a defense lawyer interrogated an FBI DNA analyst about the techniques used to connect Robinson to a towel found with a rifle near where Kirk was shot. The analyst, Amanda Bakker, stated that after Twiggs provided a DNA sample, she was able to re-run tests and attribute all DNA on the towel to two individuals: Twiggs and, very likely, Robinson. Forensics expert Lawrence Quarino, a professor at Cedar Crest College, testified that law enforcement agencies use "extremely reliable" tests for DNA analysis, calling it "the gold standard in forensic science."
Prosecutors argue that the shooting endangered others at the event, an aggravating circumstance that could lead to a death sentence under Utah law. They also claim Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political views. The defense has pushed back against this assertion, with one attorney seeking to block prosecutors from introducing a statement describing the traditional Christian values of Turning Point USA.