At a Glance
- Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 campus shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- Defense attorneys want the entire Utah County prosecution team disqualified, citing a deputy county attorney whose child attended the rally.
- Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty; Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
- Why it matters: The conflict-of-interest claim could upend one of Utah’s highest-profile murder cases and delay the May 18 preliminary hearing.
A courtroom showdown Friday will decide whether prosecutors can remain on the aggravated-murder case against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of gunning down Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
The Disqualification Fight
Robinson’s public defenders filed motions arguing that a deputy county attorney’s family tie to the event creates an “intolerable” conflict. Court filings obtained by News Of Philadelphia show the prosecutor’s 18-year-old child was in the crowd of several thousand when Kirk was shot while taking audience questions.
The teen did not witness the actual shooting, according to an affidavit, but texted a family group chat: “CHARLIE GOT SHOT.” In the aftermath the student reported “no lasting trauma aside from being scared at the time” and never missed classes.
Defense lawyers say those messages-and the parent-child relationship-contaminate the prosecution’s objectivity, especially its “rush” to pursue capital punishment. “Strong emotional reactions” have tainted charging decisions, the motion claims.
Prosecutors Push Back
Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray asked District Judge Tony Graf to reject the bid, calling the risk of bias “virtually nonexistent.” Gray emphasized the child is “neither a material witness nor a victim” and that the teen’s knowledge of the homicide is “nearly everything hearsay.”
Gray also noted the office has erected ethical firewalls and that the deputy county attorney is not the lead litigator on the case.
Evidence and Next Steps
Prosecutors have said text messages and DNA evidence link Robinson to the killing. An alleged message to Robinson’s romantic partner states he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Robinson has not entered a plea. If convicted of aggravated murder, he faces a potential death sentence. The preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must show probable cause, is scheduled to begin May 18.
Media Access Restricted
Judge Graf has already sided with the defense on one front: media outlets are barred from publishing images or live feeds that show Robinson’s restraints, a move intended to protect the presumption of innocence. The judge has yet to rule on a broader request to ban cameras entirely.
Widow Speaks
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, addressed supporters Friday, two days after the shooting. “My husband’s mission will not end,” she said.
Key Takeaways
- Robinson’s bid to disqualify prosecutors centers on a deputy county attorney whose child attended the rally.
- The defense claims the death-penalty decision shows “strong emotional reactions” that bias the case.
- Prosecutors counter that ethical screens are in place and the teen’s role is peripheral.
- A ruling from Judge Graf could come before the May 18 preliminary hearing.
Daniel J. Whitman reported from Billings, Montana.
