Tyler Robinson faces major court hearing in Charlie Kirk killing case

Tyler Robinson’s first major evidentiary hearing began Monday in Utah’s 4th District Court in Provo, where prosecutors started laying out the case for sending him to trial in Charlie Kirk’s killing. Judge Tony Graf Jr. was set to decide when the five-day preliminary hearing ended whether the state had shown enough evidence to keep the aggravated-murder case moving forward.

Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting death of Kirk at Utah Valley University, where the conservative activist was addressing a crowd of thousands. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. He has not entered a plea. Prosecutors planned to present DNA evidence, testimony from investigators, autopsy findings, witness statements and video of the killing. They also planned to rely on hearsay at the preliminary stage. Prosecutors alleged that Robinson turned himself in after the shooting and sent a text-message confession to his partner, including a note saying he had an opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices and was going to take it.

Kirk’s widow was expected to attend the hearing. The proceeding was livestreamed and open to reporters and the public after Graf denied a defense request to close all or part of it.

The hearing came after weeks of legal conflict over publicity and punishment. In late June, Graf found prosecutor Christopher Ballard in civil contempt for publicly saying there was “ample evidence” to prove Robinson’s guilt, but he did not remove the death penalty from the case. Defense lawyers argued that intense coverage could prejudice a future jury, while prosecutors and Kirk’s widow pushed for open proceedings. Robinson was arrested after a brief statewide manhunt following the shooting and faces multiple counts, including felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness and a misdemeanor violent offense committed in the presence of a child.