Lawyer Criticizes Tyler Robinson Defense Attorney Over Charlie Kirk Hate Allegation

PROVO, Utah — The attorney representing accused Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson came under sharp criticism Tuesday, both in court and beyond, after arguing that Kirk had behaved “hatefully” before he was shot and killed in front of thousands at a public speaking event at Utah Valley University.

“I think what the defense attorney said regarding Charlie Kirk and that he was full of hate, that was so unprofessional,” said David Gelman, a New Jersey criminal defense attorney who has been closely following the case. “That was so out of left field that he honestly — he should be embarrassed of what he said.”

Robinson, 23, is charged in the Sept. 10, 2025, assassination of Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, during a Turning Point USA event on the Utah Valley University campus. Kirk was addressing a large crowd when he was fatally shot.

During arguments opposing the case being bound over for trial, California defense attorney Richard Novak told the court, “Mr. Kirk spoke hatefully of certain groups of people.” Novak also argued there was a “significant gap” between Kirk’s public views and Robinson’s feelings about him.

Kirk’s parents, widow and other relatives were seated in the courtroom as Novak repeated the phrase. Family members exchanged glances, and some appeared to wipe away tears. Erika Kirk leaned forward and spoke quietly to an aide from the county attorney’s office.

“You don’t ever and I mean ever say that, No. 1, as a defense attorney or a prosecutor, especially not even at a trial,” Gelman said. “If you want to paint Charlie as a bad person in front of the jury, knock your socks off. Do whatever you think you have to do. But to do that at a preliminary hearing…when you have the victim’s family all there, that was totally uncalled for.”

Chief Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander and Kirk family attorney Jeffrey Neiman both pushed back on Novak’s comments in front of the judge.

“The state takes great exception with Mr. Novak attributing all of this ‘hate’ to Mr. Kirk during his argument today,” Grunander said in his rebuttal. “None of what was presented during the preliminary hearing [shows] that he is hateful towards this group or hateful towards that group. He had an opinion that he would express on politics and religion. That doesn’t make it hate, but the fact that Mr. Novak even considered as hate makes the case for the state in his client’s own words, he hated what Mr. Kirk stood for.”

Neiman told the court that Kirk had made a career out of having “hard conversations” on difficult topics.

“Charlie was the opposite of hate,” he said. “Firing a bullet into a crowd and assassinating him. That is hate.”

In text messages prosecutors allege Robinson sent to Twiggs, the sender also accused Kirk of “hate.”

Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner at the time, has been a key witness for prosecutors, who allege that Robinson confessed the crime and apparent motive to him.

“Why did I do it?” Robinson allegedly wrote to Twiggs after the slaying. “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence.”

News Outlet has reached out to Robinson’s defense team for comment.

“Charlie Kirk was not full of hatred,” Gelman said. “If anything, he was full of love…He brought people together. He was there doing a free speech event, all right? He’s trying to bring people on the left on the right together.”

Judge Tony Graf Jr. bound over all charges to district court for trial Tuesday, including the death penalty-eligible charge of aggravated murder.

Robinson is due back in court on Oct. 23 for a pretrial conference, where Graf may set a trial date.

His attorney, Kathy Nester, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all charges at an arraignment Tuesday.