The 22-year-old man charged with the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to appear in a Utah courtroom on Monday, where he and his court-appointed legal counsel will decide whether to pursue a preliminary hearing or move directly to arraignment.
Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and announced their intention to seek the death penalty. Under Utah state law, defendants may waive their right to a preliminary hearing and instead proceed to arraignment, where a formal plea is entered.
Robinson, who was arrested after turning himself in at a sheriff’s office in his hometown in southwest Utah, has been linked to the crime through DNA evidence and incriminating text messages, prosecutors say.
According to Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, Robinson left a note for his partner before the shooting, claiming he had the opportunity to kill “one of the nation’s leading conservative voices.” In a text, he allegedly wrote, “I had enough of his hatred.”
The Sept. 10 killing in Provo stunned Utah Valley University students and set off a day-and-a-half manhunt before Robinson’s surrender. Kirk’s assassination has galvanised Republicans nationwide, with former President Donald Trump declaring him a “martyr” for freedom and pledging to fight what he described as “radical left” extremism.
The aftermath has also drawn controversy, with employees across the country reportedly disciplined for critical remarks about Kirk, including late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was briefly suspended before being reinstated.
Kirk, founder of the Arizona-based group Turning Point USA, was a key figure in mobilising young evangelical Christians through his campus events, social media presence, and podcast. His absence has left a void at upcoming events, where Republican leaders such as Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Sen. Mike Lee are stepping in to speak.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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