Prosecutors argue Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, ought to stand trial | LIVE

PROVO, Utah — Utah prosecutors are in courtroom Monday searching for to persuade a state choose they’ve sufficient proof to convey to trial the person accused in Charlie Kirk’s assassination and search the demise penalty.

Kirk’s dad and mom and widow, Erika Kirk, had been within the courtroom for the primary time, together with Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump’s son. The five-day preliminary listening to will mark probably the most important presentation of proof within the case towards defendant Tyler Robinson.

Three males escorted Erika Kirk into the courthouse in Provo a number of minutes earlier than the listening to started. She walked into courtroom holding palms with Kirk’s mother, Kathryn Kirk.

Robinson’s mother or father’s additionally had been current, a couple of rows behind the Kirks. The 23-year-old man is charged with aggravated homicide within the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of President Donald Trump, at Utah Valley College. Robinson turned himself within the day after the capturing.

Prosecutors allege he confessed in a notice left for his roommate, who was additionally his romantic accomplice, that learn: “I had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and I’ll take it.”

Robinson has not but entered a plea, and his attorneys haven’t commented on his guilt or innocence. They’ve, nonetheless, sought to get the demise penalty taken off the desk, thus far unsuccessfully.

The continuing will resemble a mini-trial, however prosecutors want solely show that there are affordable grounds to consider Robinson killed Kirk. The usual is decrease than for a trial, the place prosecutors should show guilt “past an inexpensive doubt.”

Prosecutors count on to current between 40 and 50 reveals throughout this week’s listening to.

Chief Deputy Utah County Legal professional Chad Grunander instructed State District Choose Tony Graf that the reveals will embrace a number of movies of the Sept. 10 capturing, which occurred as Kirk was addressing a crowd of 1000’s at Utah Valley College.

The movies will likely be proven on a courtroom monitor that’s being arrange in order that it will not be captured by the press videographer within the courtroom, mentioned Graf.

As soon as the listening to is completed, state District Choose Tony Graf should decide whether or not there’s sufficient proof for the case to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors have mentioned they plan to current DNA proof linking Robinson to the suspected homicide weapon, testimony from investigators, post-mortem findings, witness statements and video of Kirk’s killing. They’re additionally anticipated to argue the capturing endangered others at Kirk’s campus occasion – an aggravating circumstance that might make the crime punishable by demise underneath Utah legislation.

Prosecutors this week can use secondhand info, or rumour, to assist current their case.

Robinson’s roommate shouldn’t be anticipated to testify in particular person in the course of the listening to. Nonetheless, the roommate’s recorded testimony could possibly be a focus for prosecutors.

Along with the alleged confession notice, Robinson reportedly texted his roommate that he focused Kirk as a result of he “had sufficient of his hatred,” prosecutors have mentioned.

Earlier than his demise, Kirk and the group he co-founded, Turning Level USA, galvanized the conservative youth vote to assist Trump win a second time period.

The Republican president has mentioned he hopes Robinson receives the demise penalty.

Erika Kirk mentioned throughout his memorial service that she forgives Robinson.

Forward of Monday’s listening to, she thanked supporters in an announcement posted to X for his or her kindness and prayers.

“Each courtroom continuing serves as a painful reminder of his demise,” she wrote, “and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his kids.”

She added that the general public outpouring “has sustained us in the course of the darkest days of our lives.”

She is anticipated in courtroom all through the week along with her husband’s dad and mom, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, in accordance with an individual aware of the state of affairs who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly.