Tyler Robinson, accused of being the would-be assassin of Charlie Kirk, is seeking to swap his prison garb for civilian attire during court appearances. His legal team believes that, similar to the situation with convicted murderer Brian Koberger, this change could help mitigate any preconceptions of guilt.
In a motion submitted to Utah’s 4th District Court, his lawyers assert that seeing Robinson in prison clothing and shackles might lead jurors to jump to conclusions about his guilt and the severity of his punishment. They claim that this could compromise his right to a fair trial. The 22-year-old’s attorneys emphasized that “permitting Mr. Robinson to wear civilian clothes… is a minor inconvenience compared to ensuring a fair trial by an impartial jury.”
Notably, with ongoing media attention, the potential for jurors to form opinions about Robinson based on images of him in custody only grows. The filing expressed concern that repeated exposure to depictions of him in a jumpsuit might skew public perception.
Robinson is charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting a conservative activist at a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10. During a prior virtual hearing, he appeared in a “suicide smock,” which raised further concerns among his defenders.
They pointed out that the frequent and widespread images of him in restraints would likely impact jurors, leading them to view him as guilty and deserving of severe punishment. The motion also notes Koberger’s case, wherein he was allowed to wear a suit and not be handcuffed during pretrial appearances, despite the intense media spotlight.
Koberger received life imprisonment in July for murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022, a situation that didn’t sway the court’s decision in his favor.
Robinson, facing charges including aggravated murder, could potentially receive the death penalty in Utah. This is especially poignant given that former President Trump, a personal associate of Kirk, has shown support for capital punishment.
Interestingly, Utah remains one of the few states that still permits the firing squad as a method of execution.
Robinson has not publicly responded to the charges against him and is set to appear in court again on October 30.
