- Judge to announce cameras, preliminary hearing decisions in Tyler Robinson case.
- Robinson, 23, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, faces potential death sentence if convicted.
- Robinson's defense seeks hearing delay; prosecutors argue ample evidence for preliminary hearing this month.
PROVO — The judge overseeing the Tyler Robinson capital murder case is expected to announce his decisions on a couple of key issues Friday.
Fourth District Judge Tony Graf is expected to announce whether Robinson's preliminary hearing, scheduled to begin in less than two weeks, will be delayed and whether the press will be allowed to have cameras and microphones in the courtroom recording Robinson's legal proceedings.
Robinson, 23, is accused of shooting and killing political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. He is charged with capital murder and faces a potential death sentence if convicted.
During a preliminary hearing, a judge determines if there is enough probable cause to order a defendant to stand trial on the charges levied against him or her. The bar that prosecutors have to meet to establish probable cause is extremely low during the preliminary hearing stage, and the state typically does not present all of its evidence at that time. The Utah County Attorney's Office says that because of that, the preliminary hearing should proceed as scheduled because of the overwhelming amount of evidence already collected.
Prosecutors have said they would not present any DNA evidence at the preliminary hearing if that would help avoid a delay, contending they have plenty of other evidence for the case to be bound over for trial even without it.
Robinson's attorneys want the preliminary hearing pushed back until later in the year, arguing that they need more time to go over the mountain of evidence collected in the case and properly prepare for the hearing, including rounding up expert witnesses.
Prosecution witnesses for preliminary hearing
Although the judge has not announced his decision, prosecutors and Robinson have already made several court filings in preparation for the hearing, currently scheduled for May 18, 19 and 21.
This week, the Utah County Attorney's Office has identified six witnesses it intends to call to the stand during the preliminary hearing and the exhibits the prosecutors plan to introduce, including:
- Lance Twiggs, who was Robinson's roommate at the time Kirk was killed. According to court documents, prosecutors will show a recorded interview with Twiggs rather than have him testify in person. After Robinson allegedly shot Kirk, investigators believe he messaged Twiggs and confessed.
- Four agents from the Utah State Bureau of Investigation.
- A Utah Valley University police officer.
- Photos and videos from UVU — including exhibits described as "photo of sniper perch" and "photo of rifle in bushes."
- Text messages between Robinson and Twiggs.
- Photographs of notes.
Robinson, who has already filed a motion asking for portions of the preliminary hearing to be closed to the public, also filed a motion this week "to sanction the admissibility of hearsay evidence."
"This motion is made on the ground that the use of hearsay evidence to establish probable cause at a preliminary hearing in a capital case violates the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution, and separation of powers principles," according to court documents. Those amendments protect Robinson's due process rights and right to a fair trial and from unreasonable search and seizure.
Graf is also expected to announce his decision about whether cameras and microphones will continue to be allowed in the courtroom.
In January, Robinson filed a motion requesting that "television cameras and microphones, still photographers, radio microphones and other similar implements of the electronic or broadcast media" be kept out of the courtroom during his legal proceedings.
Robinson contends that "highly sensational" electronic media coverage threatens his due process and his rights to a fair and impartial jury. Prosecutors, however, argue that the publicity surrounding the case is exactly why the proceedings need to remain transparent.
Graf is expected to announce his decisions at 3 p.m. Robinson will be listening via WebEx from the Utah County Jail, but the judge has granted the defense's request to turn off his video monitor during the hearing.
This story will be updated.
