The prosecution of Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, will be one of the year’s most closely scrutinized murder cases.
Prosecutors say that Mr. Robinson killed Mr. Kirk with a single rifle shot. They have said that they have extensive evidence tying Mr. Robinson to the killing, including statements to relatives, social media messages and physical evidence.
They are seeking the death penalty.
Here is how the prosecution of Mr. Robinson has unfolded over the past year:
Sept. 10, 2025: Charlie Kirk is shot at Utah Valley University in Provo, where he was answering a question from the audience about transgender people and gun violence. The police begin a manhunt for the shooter.
Sept. 11, 2025: Nearly 34 hours after Mr. Kirk was assassinated, the police arrest Mr. Robinson, then 22. His parents had seen photographs released by the authorities and believed the suspect looked like their son. They and a family friend persuaded him to turn himself in.
Sept. 16, 2025: Mr. Robinson is formally charged with aggravated murder, which can carry the death penalty in Utah, as well as several other crimes.
Sept. 22, 2025: A memorial service is held for Mr. Kirk near Phoenix, at which President Trump and other prominent figures speak. Mr. Kirk’s widow, Erika, gives a tearful speech and forgives his killer.
Dec. 11, 2025: Mr. Robinson, who has been held in jail since he was arrested, makes his first in-person appearance in court. (He remains in jail and has not entered a plea.)
May 8, 2026: The judge overseeing Mr. Robinson’s trial rejects his lawyer’s efforts to ban news cameras from the courtroom. They had argued that court hearings streamed on the internet threatened his right to a fair trial.
June 26, 2026: Utah County prosecutors are chastised by Judge Tony Graf after one told TMZ that the prosecution had “ample evidence” to convict Mr. Robinson, violating an order from the judge about what they could say publicly. As punishment, Judge Graf orders prosecutors to pay costs related to some legal filings and says he would consider expanding the jury selection process.
July 6, 2026: Prosecutors begin laying out their case against Mr. Robinson in a probable-cause hearing.
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