Charlie Kirk’s accused killer returned to court Tuesday as prosecutors pressed ahead with their effort to send the 23-year-old to trial, unveiling more evidence they say links him to the fatal shooting of the conservative activist.
The weeklong preliminary hearing is the most detailed public presentation of the case so far against Tyler Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder in Kirk’s Sept. 10 killing at a campaign-style event at Utah Valley University.
Robinson has not entered a plea, and his attorneys have not publicly addressed his guilt or innocence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Jurors are not present during the hearing. Instead, prosecutors must persuade Judge Tony Graf that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, a significantly lower standard than proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Tuesday, prosecutors were expected to present additional law enforcement video, along with a recorded statement from Robinson’s roommate.
According to court filings, prosecutors allege Robinson left a note for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, saying: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
They also allege Robinson later texted that he targeted Kirk because he had “had enough of his hatred.”
Prosecutors have said they also plan to present DNA evidence they contend links Robinson to the suspected murder weapon, witness testimony, autopsy findings and surveillance footage from the shooting.
They argue the attack endangered thousands of people attending the event, an aggravating factor that could make Robinson eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Monday’s testimony included former Utah Valley University police officer Christopher Bagley, who said he witnessed the shooting before discovering what appeared to be a spot on a nearby rooftop where someone had been lying with a clear view of the stage.
“It looks like a sniper pad,” Bagley testified.
Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, and his widow, Erika Kirk, attended the hearing alongside Robinson’s parents. Robinson sat between his attorneys, occasionally taking notes while restrained with waist and wrist shackles.
Prosecutors played multiple videos of the shooting and the frantic efforts to save Kirk’s life. Kirk’s family briefly left the courtroom before the footage was shown and returned after it concluded.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester challenged several pieces of evidence, though most objections were overruled. Judge Graf sided with the defense in excluding a compilation of surveillance footage after finding that some clips had been digitally altered with zooms and markings. Prosecutors said they would seek to admit an unedited version.
Legal experts say preliminary hearings typically favor prosecutors because they are only required to show probable cause.
“This standard is extremely low,” former Utah prosecutor and judge Mark Kouris said. “The chances of them not getting through it are, quite frankly, almost nothing.”
Before his death, Kirk and the organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA, became influential forces in conservative politics and were credited by supporters with helping energize young Republican voters.
Ahead of the hearing, Kirk’s widow, Erika, thanked supporters for their continued prayers but acknowledged the emotional toll of the proceedings.
“Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death,” she said, “and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children.”