Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty.
PROVO, Utah — A court hearing is set for Monday for the 22-year-old accused of murdering Charlie Kirk. During this session, he and his newly assigned attorney will decide whether to proceed with a preliminary hearing where a judge will assess if sufficient evidence exists to take the case to trial.
Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty.
In Utah’s judicial system, defendants have the option to forgo a preliminary hearing. Instead, they can schedule an arraignment to enter a plea.
Kathryn Nester, the defense attorney assigned to the case, has opted not to make any public comments ahead of the Monday hearing. Attempts to reach the Utah County Attorney’s Office for comments via email and phone have gone unanswered.
The public can attend the hearing in Provo, situated near the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. The community is still dealing with the aftermath of the September 10 shooting and the subsequent search for the suspect.
Robinson was apprehended when he surrendered at his local sheriff’s office in southern Utah, over three hours away from the shooting scene. Prosecutors have since presented text messages and DNA evidence they claim link him to the crime.
According to Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, Robinson left a note for his partner expressing a determination to assassinate one of the country’s prominent conservative figures, saying, “I’m going to take it.” Additionally, Robinson allegedly texted his partner about Kirk, expressing frustration with his “hatred.”
The assassination of Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism, has galvanized Republicans who have vowed to carry on Kirk’s mission of moving American politics further to the right.
Trump has declared Kirk a “martyr” for freedom and threatened to crack down on what he called the “radical left.”
Workers across the country have been punished or fired for speaking out about Kirk after his death, including teachers, public and private employees and media personalities — most notably Jimmy Kimmel, who had his late-night show suspended then quickly reinstated by ABC.
Kirk’s political organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, brought young, evangelical Christians into politics through his podcast, social media and campus events. Many prominent Republicans are filling in at the upcoming campus events Kirk was meant to attend, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Sen. Mike Lee at Utah State University on Tuesday.
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