US prosecutors lay out evidence against alleged killer of Charlie Kirk
Utah prosecutors have begun presenting evidence in the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Prosecutors in the US state of Utah have started presenting evidence in the case against Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The preliminary hearing, which began on Monday and is expected to last five days, will determine whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to bring Robinson to trial for Kirk’s death last September.
Robinson has not entered a plea, and his defense attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence. The defense has unsuccessfully sought to remove the possibility of the death penalty. US President Donald Trump has called for Robinson to face capital punishment.
The hearing, though preliminary, has the trappings of a full trial. Present in court were Kirk’s wife Erica Kirk, his parents, Donald Trump Jr., and far-right activist Jack Posobiec. Robinson sat between his attorneys, occasionally taking notes, with his wrists shackled to a chain around his waist.
The prosecution’s first witness was Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley, who described Kirk being shot while addressing a large crowd on campus. Bagley said he went to the top of a nearby building, where he found indentations in gravel resembling a “sniper pad.”
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester asked Bagley about an empty pistol holster found on the ground after the crowd fled. Bagley acknowledged he never took custody of the holster and did not know if it was fingerprinted.
Prosecutors are expected to present a so-called confession note written by Robinson, text messages in which he allegedly admitted to the crime, and video testimony from Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner.
The defense is expected to focus on inconclusive ballistics testing, which could not definitively connect the bullet fragment removed from Kirk’s body with the alleged murder weapon.
Kirk co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA and was credited with helping turn out younger voters for Trump. Following Kirk’s death, Trump blamed “radical left” ideology and vowed to crack down on liberal organizations and donors.
