Judge Delays Decision in Charlie Kirk Murder Case; Final Arguments Set for September

The preliminary hearing in the case against Tyler Robinson, charged with the aggravated murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, concluded Friday with Judge Tony Graf scheduling four hours of final arguments for September 1 before deciding whether there is sufficient probable cause to send the case to trial. Prosecutors presented what they described as overwhelming evidence over the course of the week, including testimony from law enforcement, forensic analysis, and statements from Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs. Robinson, 23, has not yet entered a plea and faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted, given allegations that the September 10, 2025, shooting at Utah Valley University endangered others and was motivated by political views.

Key testimony centered on Twiggs, who cooperated with investigators under a grant of immunity and has not been charged. In a recorded interview played in court, Twiggs described confronting Robinson the day after the shooting about comments made the previous night. According to Twiggs, Robinson had left a handwritten note under his keyboard stating in part that he “had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Twiggs said Robinson admitted the comments were true, began crying slightly, and expressed regret by saying he wished he had not done it. Robinson then paced around their apartment, appearing distracted, before indicating he planned to turn himself in. Twiggs left the residence shortly afterward.

Text messages between the two, also introduced during the hearing, reinforced elements of Twiggs’ account. Robinson allegedly texted that he was “still ok my love” but was stuck in the area and had hoped to keep the matter secret “till I died of old age,” adding that he was sorry to involve Twiggs. When Twiggs questioned whether Robinson had committed the act, Robinson reportedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry.” Additional messages referenced retrieving his rifle and instructions to delete the exchange. Prosecutors also presented evidence of a Discord post from Robinson roughly an hour before he turned himself in, in which he allegedly stated, “it was me at UVU yesterday.”

Surveillance video shown in court depicted what prosecutors identified as Robinson on a rooftop near the event, from which a single shot was allegedly fired that struck Kirk in the neck. Forensic testimony included DNA evidence allegedly linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon and to a Dremel tool he reportedly used about a month prior to engrave messages on bullet cartridges. Investigators recovered engraved cartridges and a spent casing from the weapon, along with a similar engraved casing at the shared residence. Twiggs testified that Robinson had borrowed the Dremel tool, claiming it was for engraving messages on bullets during a planned family hunting trip. Robinson appeared visibly uncomfortable during portions of this testimony, according to reports from the proceedings.

Twiggs further stated that he had never heard Robinson discuss Kirk specifically before the incident, though the pair had talked about politics, primarily focusing on President Donald Trump and current events. Twiggs identified Robinson in FBI wanted-poster images based on clothing and appearance but stopped short of 100 percent certainty due to image quality. He also noted that Robinson left early on the morning of the shooting, mentioning a long drive to work, and lingered in the area until after midnight.

Defense attorneys challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case, particularly the reliability of DNA evidence. They questioned whether DNA could have transferred innocently—for instance, through prior contact—and highlighted that some ballistics testing on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body yielded inconclusive results. Robinson declined to testify during the hearing.

Kirk’s family, including his wife Erika Kirk, issued a statement after the hearing, describing it as an important step toward justice and expressing comfort that the world had witnessed what they called overwhelming evidence of what occurred. They emphasized their commitment to a fair and transparent process grounded in facts, while acknowledging the profound loss.

With the preliminary hearing now concluded, the case enters a waiting period. Judge Graf will review briefs from both sides before hearing final arguments on September 1. His decision on whether the evidence supports probable cause to proceed to a full trial is expected afterward. If the case advances, it will move into the trial phase, where Robinson would face formal proceedings on the aggravated murder charge stemming from the fatal shooting at a Turning Point USA event.

The week’s proceedings provided a detailed public accounting of the investigation, from the immediate aftermath of the shooting through forensic analysis and witness statements. Prosecutors framed the evidence as demonstrating clear intent, planning, and execution, while the defense sought to raise questions about the strength and interpretation of key forensic links. The outcome of the September arguments will determine the next stage in a case that has drawn significant national attention.