- Lawyers for the man accused of killing political commentator Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University argue the alleged shooter did not put attendees in danger, making him ineligible for the death penalty.
- The defense claims the accused, Tyler Robinson, only hit the intended target and that the state failed to meet the burden for aggravated murder.
- Prosecutors accused Robinson of posing a great risk of death to others, but the defense refutes this, stating evidence shows no one else was in the line of fire.
- The defense wrote: The only evidence presented supports that the bullets traveled above, not through, the crowd.
- Robinson has not yet entered a plea; a hearing is set for Sept. 1 before Judge Tony Graf.
- Searches of communications between Robinson and his roommate/partner Lance Twiggs found no mention of any threat or intended harm to any other individual(s).
- Prosecutors claimed Kirk was targeted for political beliefs, citing a message where Robinson allegedly wrote he had enough of his hatred. The defense denies political motivation.
Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing political commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, argue he is ineligible for the death penalty. They claim he only hit his intended target and did not endanger others during the shooting.123
The legal team asserts that the state has failed to meet the burden of proof for an aggravated murder charge, which requires prosecutors to demonstrate additional circumstances. In Utah, aggravated murder must involve at least one statutory factor, such as prior violent crime convictions or the killing of a minor.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson posed “a great risk of death” to others during Kirk’s killing, but the defense refutes this claim. They argue that evidence shows no one other than Kirk was in the line of fire, stating, “The only evidence presented supports that the bullets traveled above, not through, the crowd.”4567
Additionally, Robinson’s attorneys noted that communications between him and his roommate, Lance Twiggs, revealed “no mention of any threat or intended harm to any other individual(s).”10
During previous hearings, prosecutors claimed Kirk was targeted for his political beliefs, citing Robinson’s alleged writings expressing hatred. However, the defense contends that the message refers to general “hatred” rather than specific political motivations. Robinson has yet to enter a plea for the charges, with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 1.891112
“The defense contends the state failed to prove aggravated murder, a capital felony, because evidence shows no one else was in the line of fire. Robinson has not entered a plea, with a hearing set for Sept. 1 before Judge Tony Graf.”
