Charlie Kirk assassination hearing begins this week as the man accused of killing the political activist appears in court for a major legal step. The hearing will decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to move the case to a full criminal trial.
Tyler Robinson, 23, is facing several serious charges linked to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk during a public event at Utah Valley University in September 2025. Robinson has not entered a plea. He will only be asked to do so if the court decides there is enough evidence for the case to continue.
The week-long preliminary hearing starts on Monday. Unlike a trial, the hearing does not decide guilt or innocence. Instead, the judge will decide whether prosecutors have shown probable cause that Robinson committed the crimes listed in the charges.
In this type of hearing, prosecutors must present enough evidence to support the case. They do not need to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. That higher legal standard is only required during a jury trial.
Because Robinson was charged through a criminal information instead of a grand jury indictment, his lawyers have the chance to question witnesses and challenge the evidence in open court. This gives the defense an early opportunity to test the prosecution’s case before any trial begins.
Charlie Kirk, who was 31 years old, was speaking at an event attended by thousands of people when he was struck by a gunshot to the neck. He died from his injuries. Kirk was a husband and father of two children. His parents and widow are expected to attend the court hearing.
According to prosecutors, investigators collected several pieces of forensic evidence that they believe connect Robinson to the shooting. They say Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of a Mauser rifle believed to be the murder weapon. DNA was also reportedly found on a towel wrapped around the rifle, on three of the four bullets inside the firearm, and on a screwdriver recovered near the suspected shooting location.
Investigators said they found the rifle in a wooded area near the university campus. Authorities believe it was left there along the suspected escape route after the shooting.
Prosecutors also plan to present digital evidence during the hearing. They allege Robinson sent text messages and used the Discord messaging platform to discuss the shooting. Court documents claim some of those messages included statements that investigators believe amount to admissions of guilt.
Authorities also allege Robinson sent a message saying he was delayed because he still needed to recover his rifle before returning home. Prosecutors argue this message supports their timeline of events following the shooting.
Another important part of the case involves Lance Twiggs, who investigators describe as Robinson’s romantic partner. Prosecutors say Robinson left Twiggs a handwritten note that admitted responsibility for the shooting. Twiggs has been cooperating with investigators and has not been charged with a crime.
Although Twiggs is not expected to testify during the preliminary hearing, prosecutors are expected to present a recorded interview he gave to police as part of their evidence.
The defense is expected to question the strength of the forensic evidence. Earlier court filings noted that firearms experts could not conclusively match the bullet that killed Kirk to the recovered Mauser rifle. However, prosecutors argue that experts found the bullet was the correct caliber and that a spent cartridge case recovered at the scene matched the rifle.
Witness testimony is also expected to play an important role. Prosecutors say several witnesses can place Robinson near the university around the time of the shooting, even though he lived about four hours away in Washington, Utah.
Robinson faces multiple criminal charges beyond the murder allegation. These include witness tampering, obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Prosecutors also claim Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political views. They allege he tried to hide the rifle and clothing used during the shooting. They further claim he encouraged Twiggs to delete messages, destroy the handwritten note, and remain silent if questioned by police.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue throughout the week. At its end, the judge will decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to move forward to trial. If that happens, Robinson will then have the opportunity to enter a formal plea before the court.
