Judge: Tyler Robinson to be tried for Charlie Kirk's death

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(The Center Square) - Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the death of Charlie Kirk, a Utah judge ruled nearly one year after the conservative leader was shot and killed in front of thousands of people at Utah Valley University.

Following a day of arguments by prosecution and defense, Fourth District Judge Tony Graf ruled Tuesday that the prosecution's evidence was sufficient for Robinson, 23, to be tried on seven counts, six of which are felonies. They include aggravated murder and multiple counts of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, the county’s top prosecutor, has said he will seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted of murder.

Immediately after Graf’s ruling, defense attorney Kathryn “Kathy” Nester entered a plea of “not guilty” to all of the charges on behalf of Robinson, who sat at the defense table in the Provo, Utah courtroom but was not visible during a livestream. Media in the courtroom said Robinson showed no emotion as Graf read the ruling.

After consulting with the defense and prosecution teams, Graf set Oct. 23 as the date of a hearing to determine the trial date. A lawyer representing Erica Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, asked the judge to be certain to determine the trial date at the proceeding, noting justice shouldn't be delayed for Kirk's family.

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem. He had a home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and his organization, Turning Point USA, is headquartered in Phoenix.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Graf said the prosecution during preliminary hearings presented testimonies by agents from the FBI, the Utah Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Graf rejected defense’s arguments that Robinson’s federal constitutional rights under the Sixth and 14th amendments were violated.

During the hearing, Erica Kirk and Kirk's parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, sat in the courtroom.