PROVO, United States — The family of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk came face-to-face with the man accused of murdering him as a preliminary court hearing opened on Monday to determine whether the case will proceed to trial.
Tyler Robinson, 23, is charged with murdering Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while addressing supporters at Utah Valley University.
The week-long hearing will allow prosecutors to present witness testimony and evidence before a judge decides whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to a jury trial.
Robinson has been charged with multiple offences, including murder, but has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.
Family speaks of enduring grief
Ahead of the proceedings, Kirk’s widow, Erika, his parents, Robert and Kathryn, and his sister, Mary, released a statement describing the emotional toll of returning to court.
“Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children,” the family said.
They thanked members of the public for their continued support and requested privacy as the judicial process continues.
“Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time. We ask for continued privacy as we navigate this process and immense grief,” the statement added.
Kirk was 31 years old and the father of two children at the time of his death.
Prosecutors outline evidence
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors presented surveillance footage and witness testimony linking Robinson to the university campus on the day of the shooting.
Investigators testified that surveillance video showed Robinson on campus four separate times, including hours after Kirk had been shot.
David Hull, an agent with the Utah State Bureau of Investigation, told the court that Robinson appeared at the university twice before the attack, was present around the time of the shooting, and returned later that evening.
Prosecutors also played home surveillance footage from a nearby neighbourhood, which they allege shows Robinson parking his grey Dodge vehicle before later returning to drive away.
Witness describes suspected sniper position
One of the first witnesses, law enforcement officer Chris Bagley, described the chaotic aftermath of the shooting and said he initially questioned whether the first suspect taken into custody was responsible.
Bagley testified that he discovered what appeared to be evidence of a sniper position on a rooftop overlooking the event.
“I could see the disturbance of gravel; to me, it looks like a sniper pad, a person that has been lying in a prone position, and you’ve got markings of elbows, knees and feet where somebody was in the line of sight of where Charlie’s tent was,” he told the court.
According to prosecutors, Kirk was addressing supporters under a tent as part of his American Comeback campus tour when a rifle shot rang out, striking him as he spoke.
Defence challenges prosecution case
Robinson’s defence team questioned the reliability of the surveillance footage, the process used to identify him as a suspect and the security arrangements at Utah Valley University on the day of the shooting.
His lawyers have also filed previous applications seeking to exclude some evidence and remove the death penalty as a possible sentence.
Robinson appeared in court wearing a light-coloured suit and sat between his attorneys throughout the proceedings.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue through the week, with additional witnesses and evidence to be examined before the court determines whether the case will proceed to trial.