Charlie Kirk’s family is urging the court to allow the full testimony of Tyler Robinson’s transgender partner to be heard publicly, after a judge ruled that a portion of the recorded statement may be withheld.
Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Kirk, is appearing at a week-long preliminary hearing where prosecutors are trying to show there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
The 23-year-old defendant could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
On Wednesday, Judge Tony Graf ruled that video testimony from Robinson’s partner and roommate, Lance Twiggs, may be released, with the exception of roughly one minute and 20 seconds. Prosecutors said they plan to edit that portion before playing the footage in court on Thursday.
A representative for the Kirk family objected to the restriction, telling the court: “To not be transparent, to not be open, to not let the world see what happened will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system, and that’s not what anybody wants.”
“That’s not what any of us believe should happen here and we’d ask the court to consider the position of the family and making this decision,” the representative added.
Robinson’s defense team argued that certain parts of the video are not relevant to the proceedings and warned that airing them could affect his right to a fair trial. The defense also filed a 20-page transcript of the interview, along with suggested redactions.
The disputed testimony comes from two police interviews with Twiggs: one conducted on September 12, the day after Robinson surrendered to authorities, and another conducted on April 20.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, has been in court every day this week for Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing
Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn, have also been at court every day this week. The family has demanded that testimony from Robinson’s transgender lover be played in full in court
Prosecutors are seeking to prove they have enough evidence to take the case against Robinson (pictured from behind) to trial
Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, have been at court every day this week for the evidence hearing.
Prosecutors on Wednesday also showed a video of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin turning himself in to cops.
Robinson has remained in custody since his family convinced him to turn himself in after recognizing him in surveillance photos shared nationwide during a frenzied manhunt for Kirk’s killer.
The video of Robinson turning himself in was introduced as evidence while Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis was testifying.
The video depicts Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office while his parents and friend waited.
Davis said after Robinson and his parents were interviewed, Robinson was placed under arrest.
He also added that he interviewed Robinson’s mother, and other law enforcement officers interviewed Robinson and Robinson’s father.
A family friend who came in with the Robinsons also was interviewed, Davis said
Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. He is pictured on that day
Charlie and Erika Kirk are pictured with their two children. Robinson could be put to death if he is convicted of killing Charlie
Judge Tony Graf ruled on Wednesday that video from Robinson’s lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, could be published but that it would be partially redacted
The clip was one of several presented during days of testimony to decide whether the case should proceed to trial.
On Tuesday, prosecutors presented bombshell evidence that they say places Robinson at the scene of the murder.
In surveillance allegedly showing Robinson moments before Kirk was killed, the suspect was seen walking with an apparent limp – keeping his right leg straight as he climbed stairs on the way to the ‘snipers perch’ on a nearby rooftop.
The video blew a hole in conspiracy theories that claim Robinson ‘never set foot on the campus.’
Former Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull described the footage as it was played to court.
He revealed that Robinson spoke with members of Kirk’s group, Turning Point USA, and got Chick-fil-A before the shooting, then changed his clothes before the murder.
On Monday, Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley – the first officer at the scene – testified that he was near the stage when Kirk was hit by a single bullet in the neck, sending the crowd scrambling for safety.
Bagley described the moments as ‘chaotic,’ but said he quickly realized there was a raised roof across from where Kirk was shot that could have been where the assassin fired from.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis testified that he interviewed Robinson’s mother when he turned himself in
Video played in court showed Tyler Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office when he turned himself in
He testified that he raced to the rooftop of the Losee Center building and found a ‘sniper pad,’ with the gravel on the roof imprinted from where the suspect had laid down to take the fatal shot.
The weapon was described as a bolt-action rifle with one spent round. It was found after in a wooded area near where Kirk was shot and, according to police, a towel wrapped around the weapon tested positive for Robinson’s DNA.
Investigators have also claimed to have found bullet casings engraved with political messages in the gun.
