A US judge has ruled that Tyler James Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial for murder after finding that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty in Utah over the alleged killing of Kirk, who was shot in the neck during a rally at a college campus on September 10 last year.
“For the foregoing reasons and based off the record and parties’ submissions, it is hereby ordered that the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, is bound over for trial,” Judge Tony Graf said in court on Tuesday.
The ruling followed a preliminary hearing in which prosecutors and defence lawyers argued over whether the case should proceed to trial.
Prosecutors presented video game chats and text messages they said showed Robinson was responsible for Kirk’s killing. They argued that Robinson had become “fed up” with what he described as the “hate” spread by Kirk.
The defence, however, focused on challenging the validity of DNA evidence that prosecutors said linked Robinson to the alleged murder weapon.
Following the judge’s decision, Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to US media reports.
Kirk, who was 31 when he was killed, had organised the event through Turning Point, the right-wing youth organisation he founded and which supported Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election.
The organisation is now led by Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk.
“Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him,” Erika Kirk said in a statement posted on X.
Kirk’s killing sent shockwaves across the United States and sparked widespread reaction in political circles.
He had emerged as a prominent figure among young conservatives and was a leading voice in a Christian nationalist movement advocating traditional values while facing criticism over his views on diversity and LGBTQ issues.
