Lawyers for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk are expected to continue questioning the reliability of DNA testing that prosecutors said links the defendant to the suspected murder weapon when a weeklong hearing continues.
Case Background
A member of Tyler Robinson’s defense team interrogated a DNA analyst from the FBI about the techniques she used to connect Robinson to a rifle found wrapped inside a towel at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot in September while speaking to a crowd.
Defense lawyer Michael Burt cast doubt on the analyst’s conclusions — a theme that’s likely to come up again during the five-day preliminary hearing. Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride countered that the reliability of the DNA testing could be examined if the case goes to trial.
Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in the case. They are trying to convince Judge Tony Graf that they have enough evidence to bring Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge. Robinson has not yet entered a plea and his attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.
Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a note left for his roommate, Lance Twiggs, that read: ‘I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.’ In a surveillance video shown in court from the day Kirk was killed, Robinson could be seen climbing over a railing onto a rooftop, crouching down and running to a site overlooking where the activist was speaking.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
