Tyler Robinson’s father was in the Provo, Utah, courtroom Tuesday, standing by his son as a judge prepared to issue a pivotal decision in the Charlie Kirk murder case.
Matthew Robinson made the roughly three-hour trip from his home to observe closing arguments over the evidence against his 23-year-old son, who is accused of fatally shooting the Turning Point USA founder at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 last year.
During the first phase of the preliminary hearing in July, prosecutors played surveillance footage they said showed Robinson moving around the campus with a rifle concealed in his pants. They also called experts who testified that Robinson’s DNA was likely found on both the rifle and a screwdriver recovered from the scene.
The state also introduced video testimony from Robinson’s transgender partner, Lance Twiggs, who said Robinson admitted to the shooting in text messages and later during an emotional face-to-face conversation.
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Judge Tony Graf is expected to rule Tuesday on whether Robinson will be ordered to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge. If convicted, Robinson could face the death penalty, including execution by firing squad under Utah law.
Kirk’s widow Erika was also excepted to attend the hearing; she rushed out of the courtroom in July as prosecutors showed graphic videos of the single shot to the neck that killed her husband as he debated students in a UVU courtyard.
