A 23-year-old Utah man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a judge ruled prosecutors can seek the death penalty at trial.
Tyler Robinson denies aggravated murder, a capital offence in Utah, and six other charges in connection with the shooting of Kirk at a campus event on 10 September 2025.
Defence lawyers had attempted to have the death penalty removed from consideration, but prosecutors argued that aggravating factors, including firing into a crowd in the presence of children, warranted a capital trial.
Turning Point USA co-founder Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The defendant, dressed in a grey suit and occasionally consulting with his legal team, appeared in court in Provo on Tuesday.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, who is the mother of their two children, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, were also present during the hearing.
“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father,” Kirk’s family stated.
Following a five-day preliminary hearing in July, prosecutors closed arguments, presenting evidence intended to show probable cause for trial.
This evidence included DNA allegedly linking Robinson to the murder weapon and other items found at the scene, confessions allegedly made by him to friends and family, and a taped video statement from his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride asserted, “There is a mountain of evidence that proves that he is the shooter,” while citing video evidence that purportedly captured Robinson “dressed to kill” on campus on the day of the shooting.
McBride added, “We know that the defendant is the shooter… first, because of the video evidence; second, because of the DNA; third, because of his admissions; and fourth, because of circumstantial evidence.”
Prosecutors asserted that the accused, a former apprentice electrician, held a derogatory view of Kirk’s conservative beliefs, particularly on transgender issues, which they argued was the motive.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution highlighted aggravating factors, claiming Robinson “gambled with the lives of others” by firing towards Kirk, surrounded by a crowd.
Prosecutor Chad Grunander remarked, “He was playing, in effect, a game of ballistic roulette.” He added, “It’s been 356 days since Tyler Robinson assassinated Charlie Kirk. It’s time for him, the defendant, to be bound over for trial and arraigned. Today.”
Defence lawyers attempted to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence, raising questions about procedure and the qualifications of the experts who testified. They have also repeatedly contested the presence of cameras broadcasting the court proceedings.
Judge Tony Graf heard arguments regarding this issue during a sealed hearing on Tuesday morning but ruled in favor of maintaining transparency in a case that has sparked various conspiracy theories.
On this day, the defence also sought to minimize the aggravating factors presented by the prosecution, asserting that no other individuals were hit by bullets apart from Kirk.
The court heard during July’s hearing that the accused had reportedly scouted the campus multiple times on the day Kirk was shot, even interacting with members of TPUSA and dining at Chick-fil-A before returning dressed in different clothing.
McBride noted that this new attire included “long pants to obscure the rifle he had concealed down his pants.”
According to evidence presented by the prosecutors, Robinson’s DNA was discovered on his grandfather’s rifle, which was hidden in a wooded area near campus after the shooting, as well as on a towel it was wrapped in and a screwdriver found at the scene.
The videotaped interview with Twiggs was shown during the July hearing. Robinson’s roommate testified that he had confessed to the shooting, expressed remorse, and stated he wished he hadn’t done it.
The day after the murder, Robinson turned himself in to law enforcement, accompanied by his family and a neighbor.
His next court appearance is scheduled for 23 October, when a trial date is anticipated to be established.
