A Utah judge has ruled that reporters and the public will be allowed to attend an upcoming hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk.
Judge Tony Graf denied the defense team’s request to restrict access to portions of the preliminary hearing scheduled on July 6-10, when prosecutors must show they have enough evidence to warrant a trial.
Robinson’s lawyers want to guard against the media coverage, which they say has misrepresented their client at times, due to the tremendous public attention.
It will mark the most significant presentation of evidence to date in a case that has so far focused on matters of media access.
The 23-year-old from southwestern Utah is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus.
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. He has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors argued that the preliminary hearing should remain open, but they agreed with the defense that media should be restricted from viewing or copying some exhibits that could be used in a future trial.
They plan to introduce forensic analyses, surveillance video, recordings of witness statements, autopsy findings and alleged messages from Robinson admitting to the crime.
Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.
Prosecutors also have said Robinson left a note for his romantic partner that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.”
Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism.
Robinson’s legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”
