Charlie Kirk murder case: Defence questions evidence in Utah hearing
Tyler Robinson's lawyers challenged ballistics and DNA evidence at the Utah hearing. The defence push could shape whether the Charlie Kirk murder case proceeds to trial.
Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, plan to call one final witness on Friday as they try to cast doubt on the prosecution's case before it goes to trial. A Utah judge is deciding whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to send Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson has not entered a plea, and a ruling on whether the case will proceed to trial will come only after oral arguments scheduled for after September 1.
During Thursday's hearing, one of Robinson's lawyers, Michael Burt, questioned the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body. Investigators had tried to link the fragment to the suspected murder weapon, but the results were inconclusive. Samantha Karner of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the court, "Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate."
Earlier in the week, Burt also challenged DNA evidence that investigators said linked Robinson to the scene, though experts say the science behind DNA testing is sound. The defence said it would call its final witness on Friday, the last day of the week-long preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors on Thursday played parts of a recorded interview with Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs. In the recording, Twiggs said that the day after Kirk was shot in the neck, Robinson allegedly told him "he wishes he hadn't done it". Later that same day, and about an hour before surrendering, Robinson posted "it was me at UVU yesterday" in a chat room on the Discord social media platform, according to investigators and messages shown by prosecutors.
Defence lawyers unsuccessfully tried to block the public release of Twiggs' statements and the chat room messages. They argued that prosecutors would present the material as a confession, harming Robinson's right to a fair trial. Robinson turned himself in a day after the shooting. Kirk was described in court as a close ally of President Donald Trump who was credited with helping galvanise young voters for the Republican in the 2024 election.
Prosecutors argue that the shooting put others at Kirk's campus event in danger, an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. Robinson also faces possible sentence enhancements over claims that he targeted Kirk because of his political views. Twiggs said in his April interview with prosecutors and investigators that Robinson sometimes spoke about politics, including Trump, but that he had never heard him speak about Kirk before the shooting. Twiggs also said Robinson did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ rights.
The hearing is set to close on Friday after the defence calls its last witness, but Judge Tony Graf will decide only after hearing oral arguments after September 1 whether the evidence is enough to put Robinson on trial for aggravated murder.
With PTI Inputs
Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, plan to call one final witness on Friday as they try to cast doubt on the prosecution's case before it goes to trial. A Utah judge is deciding whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to send Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson has not entered a plea, and a ruling on whether the case will proceed to trial will come only after oral arguments scheduled for after September 1.
During Thursday's hearing, one of Robinson's lawyers, Michael Burt, questioned the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body. Investigators had tried to link the fragment to the suspected murder weapon, but the results were inconclusive. Samantha Karner of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the court, "Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate."
Earlier in the week, Burt also challenged DNA evidence that investigators said linked Robinson to the scene, though experts say the science behind DNA testing is sound. The defence said it would call its final witness on Friday, the last day of the week-long preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors on Thursday played parts of a recorded interview with Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs. In the recording, Twiggs said that the day after Kirk was shot in the neck, Robinson allegedly told him "he wishes he hadn't done it". Later that same day, and about an hour before surrendering, Robinson posted "it was me at UVU yesterday" in a chat room on the Discord social media platform, according to investigators and messages shown by prosecutors.
Defence lawyers unsuccessfully tried to block the public release of Twiggs' statements and the chat room messages. They argued that prosecutors would present the material as a confession, harming Robinson's right to a fair trial. Robinson turned himself in a day after the shooting. Kirk was described in court as a close ally of President Donald Trump who was credited with helping galvanise young voters for the Republican in the 2024 election.
Prosecutors argue that the shooting put others at Kirk's campus event in danger, an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. Robinson also faces possible sentence enhancements over claims that he targeted Kirk because of his political views. Twiggs said in his April interview with prosecutors and investigators that Robinson sometimes spoke about politics, including Trump, but that he had never heard him speak about Kirk before the shooting. Twiggs also said Robinson did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ rights.
The hearing is set to close on Friday after the defence calls its last witness, but Judge Tony Graf will decide only after hearing oral arguments after September 1 whether the evidence is enough to put Robinson on trial for aggravated murder.
With PTI Inputs
