Prosecutors present evidence in Provo, Utah, as they seek to move forward with a death penalty case against Tyler Robinson in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old charged in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is underway Monday in Provo, Utah, as prosecutors prepare to present evidence in a case that could result in the death penalty.
The hearing before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf is scheduled to last five days and will be the first extended public presentation of the state’s case against Robinson. Prosecutors must show probable cause that Robinson committed the charged offenses before the case can proceed to trial.
A livestream of the proceeding is available here.
WATCH:
Kirk, 31, was the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Donald Trump. He was shot in the neck Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking before thousands of people at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Robinson turned himself in after a 33-hour manhunt. He has not yet entered a plea to charges that include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted of aggravated murder. Graf ruled last month that capital punishment remains a possible outcome in the case.
The court has scheduled the hearing for July 6-10. Graf has allowed news photographers and a livestream feed inside the courtroom, while barring other reporters and members of the public from bringing laptops or phones into the proceedings.
In a written order, Graf said such devices “may disrupt and/or compromise the integrity of the preliminary hearing proceedings.”
The judge made one exception involving the Deseret News. Because the newspaper missed the filing deadline for its first-day camera request, it will not be allowed to take photographs on July 6, though it may photograph the July 8 and July 10 sessions.
The dispute over courtroom cameras has become one of the central issues ahead of the hearing. Robinson’s defense attorneys argued that livestreamed footage could prejudice the jury pool in a capital case already surrounded by online commentary and conspiracy theories.
Prosecutors, Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk and a coalition of media organizations argued that public access would help counter misinformation.
The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday declined to intervene, writing that “the petition for permission to appeal from an interlocutory order is denied.” The court also found Robinson’s request for a stay moot.
Two additional defense petitions remain pending. One seeks to block hearsay evidence, while another challenges Graf’s refusal to compel Lance Twiggs, a key witness, to appear in person.
According to filings, prosecutors plan to present ballistics reports, surveillance video from the Utah Valley University campus, phone and social media data, text messages between Robinson and Twiggs, and Kirk’s autopsy report.
Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, has been granted limited immunity and is expected to testify through a prerecorded video interview. In that interview, Twiggs says Robinson confessed.
Kirk’s parents and Erika Kirk are expected to attend the Provo hearing, marking their first courtroom appearance in the case.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to warn Kirk’s family before graphic images or video of the shooting are shown, allowing them to leave the courtroom if they choose.
If Graf finds probable cause on any charge, Robinson will be bound over for trial and is expected to enter pleas shortly afterward.
The hearing will determine whether the case advances toward trial and whether prosecutors can continue pursuing the most serious penalties available under Utah law.
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