A Utah judge ruled that portions of Lance Twiggs’ interview, text messages, Discord chat and a written note attributed to Tyler Robinson may be shown as the preliminary hearing in the Charlie Kirk assassination case continues.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A Utah judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors may present portions of a video interview with Tyler Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, along with selected text messages and other evidence, during the fourth day of Robinson’s preliminary hearing in the Charlie Kirk assassination case.
The hearing, streamed in part through a live court feed, is being held to determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for Robinson to stand trial in the fatal shooting of Kirk while he was speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.
Robinson faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder. He has not entered a plea, and his attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Utah allows execution by lethal injection or firing squad in death penalty cases.
The fourth day of proceedings centered heavily on what evidence could be shown publicly, what could be viewed only in the courtroom and what should remain restricted to protect Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
Judge Tony Graf ruled that not all evidence would be made public and said he would decide under a tiered system whether specific exhibits would be admitted, shown in court or made available to the public.
“This ruling is not intended to diminish the significance of the victim’s representative rights or concerns. Rather, it reflects the court’s responsibility to regulate the presentation of evidence in a manner consistent with the integrity of the proceedings and the fair trial rights implicated in this matter,” Graf said.
In a separate ruling, Graf said prosecutors could play portions of Twiggs’ interview. He also ruled that text messages and Discord chat could be shown on the livestream and in the courtroom, with some exceptions. One document was ordered redacted because it contained identifying information, including a phone number.
Defense attorneys had argued against public release of the statements from Twiggs, warning that prosecutors would characterize the comments as a confession and that broadcasting them could prejudice a future jury pool. Defense attorney Richard Novak argued that releasing certain evidence in open court could undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
Prosecutors said Twiggs was the person with whom Robinson exchanged text messages after Kirk was shot. According to court documents, Robinson allegedly told the person to look under his computer keyboard for a note that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
In a later text exchange, Robinson allegedly wrote of Kirk, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Prosecutors have suggested in recent days that Robinson may have been motivated by Kirk’s views on transgender issues, saying Robinson was “on the other side of those views.” Prosecutor Ryan McBride was quoted by The Telegraph as arguing that a piece of evidence was relevant because Robinson “falls into some of these political and gender views that Charlie Kirk argued against.”
The court began watching a prerecorded statement from Twiggs on Thursday, with Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent Brian Davis physically on the stand to present the video. Twiggs was first asked whether he knew Robinson.
“Yes, I do,” Twiggs said, confirming that the two were roommates who lived in separate rooms in the same apartment.
Attorneys for the Kirk family and media organizations urged the court to allow more transparency. Michael Judd, representing The Salt Lake Tribune and other media outlets, asked that the video be shown. Jeffrey Neiman, representing Erika Kirk and the broader Kirk family, also pressed for the evidence to be displayed in the courtroom and, in some instances, released publicly.
“The Kirk family has waited 10 months for this hearing,” Neiman said. “They have a right to be here and they have a right to hear the evidence. They have a right to see and feel what is going on in the court.”
Neiman said the family understood the court’s need to balance evidence concerns but argued that “at a minimum this courtroom needs to be open, for the evidence to be displayed in this courtroom.”
He said the Kirks wanted evidence admitted during the hearing to be made public.
“It should be made public for the world to see,” Neiman said Wednesday before court adjourned for the day. “No redactions.”
“To not be transparent here, to not be open, to not let the world see what happened will create doubt and trust in the judicial system,” Neiman argued.
“They deserve to know what happened to Charlie,” he said Thursday.
Robinson appeared in court Thursday wearing a gray suit and white shirt while seated beside his attorneys. His hair appeared trimmed, and he looked straight ahead at the judge during proceedings.
Davis also testified Wednesday about Robinson turning himself in. He said Robinson arrived at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 11 with his parents and a family friend.
Robinson was formally arrested around 4 a.m. the following day and transported to the Utah County Jail. Investigators collected his clothing, fingerprints and DNA under a search warrant, Davis testified.
Davis said investigators later searched Robinson’s home and his parents’ residence. Prosecutors also played a video that Davis said showed Robinson in an interview room wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap.
Davis testified that Twiggs was interviewed twice, provided a DNA swab and received limited-use immunity before cooperating with investigators. Before his second interview, Twiggs was warned that false statements could result in a Class A misdemeanor, Davis said.
Graf reminded both sides that the preliminary hearing is scheduled to conclude Friday. Prosecutors said Utah State Bureau of Investigation Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina, who oversaw crime scenes and physical evidence, will be their final witness. She was expected to return to the stand Thursday.
The defense said it plans to call two witnesses from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether the case proceeds to trial. If Robinson were to plead guilty before trial, the state could avoid a trial altogether. If the case continues and Robinson is convicted, prosecutors could pursue either life without parole or the death penalty.
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