Tyler Robinson’s Legal Strategy in Charlie Kirk Case

Tyler Robinson has been avoiding a plea in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk for over nine months. A former federal prosecutor remarked that his approach parallels the tactics used by one of the most infamous murderers in recent history, aiming for a specific outcome.

The 23-year-old Robinson faces several charges after allegedly shooting and killing Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. He has not yet entered a plea, as he won’t be arraigned until a preliminary hearing, which is set for July 6-10.

Robinson’s legal team has inundated the court with motions, accumulating various delays in the proceedings.

Former federal prosecutor Neema Rahmani mentioned that Robinson’s defense appears to be employing a strategy similar to that of Brian Koberger, another high-profile murder case defendant.

Defensive Strategies Compared

Rahmani explained that Robinson’s defense has attempted to corner the prosecution by filing numerous pretrial motions. These include efforts to disqualify the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office, suppress certain evidence, and seek a contempt order against prosecutors for alleged violations of a gag order. This series of actions could potentially remove the death penalty as an option, much like the defense did in Koberger’s case.

Koberger had previously pleaded guilty in July 2025 to multiple murders, which occurred in November 2022.

“By filing these motions, they aim to argue the law rather than the facts,” Rahmani said, pointing out that they may be hoping for a win on one or more motions or even inducing the prosecution to reconsider the case out of fear of lengthy appeals common in capital cases.

There’s also a tactic of repetitive filing, perhaps in hopes that the prosecution might offer a plea deal, which could result in life imprisonment without parole—a substantial win for the defense and, ultimately, saving Robinson’s life.

In a recent hearing, Judge Tony Graf Jr. dealt a setback to Robinson’s defense but opted to defer a more significant ruling to another hearing scheduled for Friday. Robinson’s lawyers have claimed that the prosecution violated a gag order by discussing the case publicly and have requested that the judge eliminate the possibility of the death penalty.

Moreover, Judge Graf denied a motion by Robinson’s defense to compel testimony from his former roommate and boyfriend, Lance Twiggs, during the preliminary hearing. However, prosecutors might still present pre-recorded testimony from Twiggs along with other types of hearsay evidence.

Robinson’s Legal Challenges

Robinson’s attorneys are fighting to prevent hearsay evidence from being admitted, including that pre-recorded testimony, as well as DNA and ballistic reports. One of his lawyers previously represented Cori Richins, who was convicted for poisoning her husband.

Richins’ legal battles lasted years, ultimately leading to a life sentence without the possibility of parole more than four years after her husband’s death. This offers a glimpse into the complexities and lengthy nature of such legal cases.