New update in Charlie Kirk murder suspect’s trial as judge grants small legal win

Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during a rally in Utah last month, appeared in court yesterday following the commencement of pre-trial hearings.

The 22-year-old was apprehended by both the FBI and local police officers on Friday, 12 September, two days after the 31-year-old's death.

Kirk, a right-wing activist and close political confidante to Donald Trump, had been hosting a college debate at Utah Valley University at the time, to which over 3,000 onlookers attended.

Whilst in the midst of answering a question, a single bullet was fired through the 31-year-old's neck from the roof of a nearby building. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the President later announced that the Turning Point USA founder had died.

After responding, officers released images of the man they believed to be the shooter, and Robinson's father reportedly recognised him, persuading his son to surrender.

Robinson has been charged with seven crimes (Utah State Courts via Getty Images)

Not only was the man's DNA supposedly found on the trigger of the abandoned rifle discovered on the campus, but he'd reportedly left a note under his university keyboard, informing his roommate that he planned to kill Kirk.

Documents also show that Robinson 'confessed' to said roommate after the shooting took place.

Robinson was subsequently charged with aggravated murder, as well as six other charges, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

The following Tuesday, the student appeared virtually in court for the first time wearing a suicide prevention vest - designed to stop the person wearing it from harming themselves - where Utah County prosecutors informed attendees they were seeking the death penalty.

Appearing virtually in court yesterday (27 Oct) for the first pre-trial hearing, Robinson was granted a small legal victory by Judge Tony Graf, who permitted him to wear civilian clothes in line with the presumption of innocence.

Robinson wore a suicide vest for his first appearance in court last month (Utah State Courts via Getty Images)

Explaining this decision, Graf said (via the BBC): "Balancing these factors, the court finds that Mr Robinson's right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire."

This said, though, Robinson will still be required to wear restraints given the severity of his alleged crimes, with Graf adding that 'the safety of Mr Robinson, the attorneys, court staff, and the public must remain the court's highest priority'.

The judge went on to add, however, that these restraints should be the 'least restrictive' possible due to his lack of prior criminal history.

"The emotional nature of these proceedings also raise the risk of disruption," Graf continued. "Given these factors, the defendant's request to appear without restraints is denied."

However, he also ruled that members of the media were forbidden to photograph or videotape Robinson while in restraints.

Robinson will make his first in-person court appearance on 16 January.