Thursday was the fourth day in the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk. There was some intense recorded testimony from Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, that really caught everyone’s attention.
The prosecution shared heavily edited clips of Twiggs’ testimony during the hearing, which is looking to decide if there’s enough evidence to move forward with a full trial. Judge Tony Graf also listened for several hours about the firearm found at the crime scene, along with bullets discovered both at the scene and at Robinson’s home.
The hearing is set to continue at 9 a.m. MDT on Friday, which is the final day planned.
Timeline Update
Judge Graf mentioned that both sides had the opportunity to submit briefs before the court makes a decision on whether to proceed to trial. The prosecution must submit their brief by July 28, while the defense has until August 11. Following that, a rebuttal from the prosecution is due August 18, with closing arguments set for September 1 at 10 a.m. MDT.
The defense has asked for clarification on several legal issues they wish to present in court.
Recorded Testimony of Lance Twiggs
While Twiggs’ recorded testimony was cut down significantly, some new information came out. (Related: Twiggs states that Tyler Robinson confessed to killing Charlie Kirk)
Twiggs acknowledged he and Robinson were in a relationship and said that after the murder, he didn’t provide details to Robinson about his actions but admitted that a text confession was real. “I asked him directly the night before if what he said was true, and he said yes. Then he got emotional and said he wished he hadn’t done it,” Twiggs recounted.
Twiggs also confirmed that a surveillance image from Utah Valley University identified by the FBI looks like Tyler Robinson.
His testimony seems to support the timeline before Kirk’s death, noting that Robinson left his apartment in St. George, Utah, around 4 a.m. The drive to Utah Valley University took nearly four hours, aligning with surveillance footage showing Robinson arriving around 8 a.m.
Incorrectly Shown Letter from Robinson to Twiggs
During the proceedings, there was a mix-up when the court’s photographer accidentally displayed an image of a letter Robinson supposedly left for Twiggs, in a misunderstanding about what evidence was appropriate to show. (Related: Photographer mistakenly reveals handwritten note from Tyler Robinson)
While quotes from the letter had been released earlier, images had not. The letter stated: “If you’re reading this exactly as I wrote it, I’m really sorry. I left home on a mission and set up an autotext. I might die or face a long prison term. I had a chance to take out Charlie Kirk, so I did. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I was hoping to get back to you.”
Testimony on Recovered Firearms and Bullets
During testimony from Utah Department of Public Safety Sgt. Several photographs from different locations, including Tyler Robinson’s apartment, were shared in court.
One image showed where the suspected murder weapon, identified as a Mauser 98 with a modified .30-06 barrel, was found concealed in woods behind Utah Valley University.
“They located one .30-06 shell casing and three unexploded casings at the scene—all engraved,” testified Sgt. Faumuina. The engravings displayed a variety of internet memes and anti-fascist expressions like “Hey Fascist,” and “If you’re reading this, you’re gay, LMAO.”
Furthermore, Sgt. Faumuina noted that a box containing .30-06 bullets and shells was discovered in Robinson’s apartment. One shell was engraved with “test shot.”
Samantha Kerner from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provided information about the weapons that could have fired the bullets analyzed post-autopsy. They highlighted three .30-06 firearms that could have been involved.
Comparisons between the test shot from the firearm found and the bullet extracted during the autopsy were deemed “inconclusive.” This indicated insufficient evidence to definitively link the two. Kerner also pointed out that the forensic analysis suggested potential matches between bullets from the various test shots and the crime scene.
The defense challenged the bullet analysis approach, but the judge decided that this matter fell outside the preliminary hearing scope. Under questioning from the prosecution, Kerner talked about the expertise and certification of his lab.
Discussion on Surveillance Footage Viewing
On Thursday, Erica Kirk’s attorney voiced a request for the enhanced surveillance footage from Utah Valley University to be presented in court, asserting it would help provide closure for the family. They didn’t push for media access to the video, only for it to be shown in the courtroom.
The defense mentioned that Erica Kirk was skilled at conducting press conferences, implying she could share the video publicly if she chose. They also stated that the Kirk family retains access to all evidence held by the state, suggesting that Kirk was operating as if she were the state’s attorney.
The Kirk family’s attorney mentioned that they wouldn’t have access to the enhanced video footage.
The judge decided the video would be shown “at the conclusion of the defense’s evidence presentation.”
Erica Kirk’s Petition
Erica Kirk and her family have formally requested that the court release all evidence discussed in court to combat any conspiracy theories. (Related: Erica Kirk calls for full transparency in the murder trial’s preliminary hearing)
On Thursday, a judge affirmed that previous protection rules still apply, meaning some evidence will remain confidential to protect Robinson’s rights under the 14th Amendment.
