Accused killer Tyler Robinson will stand trial for Charlie Kirk’s assassination and will face the demise penalty if convicted, a Utah choose dominated on Tuesday.
Decide Tony Graf dominated that the 23-year-old alleged murderer will stand trial for all seven counts — together with first-degree homicide — after discovering that prosecutors had sufficient proof to strive him.
Graf additionally dominated there may be sufficient proof that Robinson put bystanders’ lives in danger when he fired over the heads of 1000’s of individuals — together with youngsters — who had gathered at Utah Valley College to see Kirk communicate on Sept. 10, 2025.
Robinson pleaded not responsible Tuesday to all prices, together with aggravated homicide, felony discharge of a firearm inflicting severe bodily damage, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of tampering with a witness, and violent offense dedicated within the presence of a kid.
These prices with aggravating elements may carry a demise sentence by firing squad if he’s convicted.
Robinson’s household sat within the entrance of the Provo courtroom with Kirk’s dad and mom and widow Erika seated within the again, KUTV noticed, as attorneys gave closing arguments on the final day of the listening to — almost a yr after 31-year-old Kirk’s demise.
“Right now’s choice, which comes almost a yr since Charlie was taken from us, marks an essential step in our household’s pursuit of justice for him,” the Kirk household mentioned in a press release.
“Each step on this course of carries the burden of all that Charlie’s homicide has taken from his household, particularly his youngsters who will develop up with out their father. We’re grateful to all who’ve continued to wish for us, help us, and stand with us via a yr of unimaginable grief.”
Prosecutors listed off “a mountain of proof” of their argument for a trial.
“There’s a mountain of proof that proves he’s the shooter,” prosecutor Ryan McBride informed the courtroom, giving an in depth account of how Robinson allegedly drove to UVU, took place on a rooftop, shot Kirk, after which bragged in regards to the crime by way of textual content to his trans associate Lance Twiggs.
Video proof, DNA traces on the gun and a screwdriver left on the scene, and messages to Twiggs all show that account, McBride mentioned.
Additionally they offered video testimony from Robinson’s trans lover Lance Twiggs, who claimed Robinson confessed to the taking pictures in texts and an emotional in-person dialog.
As for the motive: “[Kirk was] an outspoken advocate for conventional conservative values, together with conventional household and marriage,” McBride mentioned.
McBride additionally argued for a number of aggravating elements that will qualify Robinson for demise penalty, together with that the taking pictures created a “excessive chance” of demise to bystanders, that he focused Kirk for his political opinions, and that he knew youngsters had been current within the crowd.
Kirk was in a crowd of 4,000 individuals, surrounded “actually on all sides,” when Robinson took the shot, McBride argued. He additionally would have seen youngsters within the crowd.
“In a single body, I used to be capable of finding three infants in arms,” McBride mentioned, describing a video of the scene.
Robinson focused Kirk as a result of his message — which supported conventional relationships — was “repugnant” to Robinson’s LGBTQ+ way of life, McBride continued.
“We all know what cost Kirk stood for, and people concepts had been repugnant to the defendant, who was in a gay relationship with a person who was contemplating transitioning genders. It doesn’t take quite a bit to attach the dots,” he mentioned.
Robinson’s attorneys tried to counter the entire prosecution’s factors, claiming the video and DNA proof wasn’t as dependable because the prosecution claimed.
Additionally they argued that Robinson’s alleged single, focused rifle shot didn’t meet the authorized commonplace for “excessive chance” of bystander demise, and that there was no proof Robinson’s animosity for Kirk had something to do together with his love life.
“There’s a spot between what it’s Mr. Kirk mentioned and stood for … and what it’s Mr. Robinson felt about him. And it’s a big hole as a result of what it permits the state to do is to make it up. ‘Oh it have to be about this relationship,” Robinson’s lawyer Richard Novak mentioned.
