Prosecutors were due to begin laying out their case arguing a Utah man should stand trial in last year’s killing of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist credited with energizing young voters behind Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Background
During the week-long preliminary hearing, prosecutors must convince District Court Judge Tony Graf in state court in Provo that probable cause exists to believe Tyler Robinson, 23, fired the single shot that killed Kirk, 31, on September 10, 2025.
The influential conservative was appearing at Utah Valley University in Orem, 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, for one of his campus debates that drew crowds and propelled him to national prominence.
If the judge finds probable cause, Robinson would enter a plea at an arraignment that could take place the same day, and the case would be set for trial at a later date. He faces seven criminal charges including aggravated murder.
Evidence
Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty for Robinson, who was studying to be an electrician and turned himself in to police the day after the shooting.
Kirk’s killing, captured in graphic cellphone video that spread widely on social media, followed a series of attacks targeting U.S. political figures in recent years and fueled debate over political violence in a deeply polarized country.
Prosecutors were expected to present video footage that they allege shows Robinson at Utah Valley University before and after Kirk was shot.
The prosecution also planned to offer other evidence that it alleges links Robinson to the crime, including DNA from the rifle authorities say was used in the killing, a recorded statement from Robinson’s roommate and a handwritten message reading, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I took it.”
Defense
Lawyers for Robinson are likely to highlight ballistics testing that proved inconclusive in matching a bullet fragment removed from Kirk’s body with the alleged murder weapon.
Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, has taken over Turning Point USA and will be present in the Provo courtroom for the hearing with Kirk’s parents, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
