Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with assassinating conservative star Charlie Kirk, did not appear in person for a status hearing in his case on Monday, but three high-profile defense lawyers were in the courtroom on his behalf and plan to launch a vigorous defense in his capital murder case.
Kathryn N. Nester, an award-winning defense lawyer and former head of the federal defender offices in Salt Lake City and San Diego, is leading a defense team that includes Michael N. Burt and Richard G. Novak, both of California.
No date has been set for the preliminary hearing, in which prosecutors show the judge they have enough evidence to proceed with a criminal trial.
All three of Mr. Robinson’s lawyers have experience in death penalty cases.
Mr. Burt, of San Francisco, is considered one of the top capital murder defense lawyers in the country and helped several clients escape capital punishment. Mr. Novak is a leading criminal defense attorney based in Los Angeles.
Mr. Robinson, of St. George, Utah, appeared via video link in a Utah County court for the status hearing.
He faces seven charges, among them aggravated murder, which is the state’s sole crime eligible for the death penalty.
Utah County Chief Deputy Attorney Chad Grunander told Judge Tony Graf that prosecutors have amassed “a substantial amount of discovery” in the case that it plans to turn over to the defense this week.
Mr. Grunander said prosecutors are adding to their witness list, likely from those who were in the crowd of 3,000 people at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 watching Kirk, 31, engage in a Q-and-A with students when he was shot in the neck from 200 yards away.
“There are a number of witnesses that have yet to be identified that would likely be used in the state’s case,” Mr. Grunander said. Prosecutors are still identifying those witnesses, whom he said “are presently unknown.”
Ms. Nester asked for a second status hearing to give the defense team time to dig through the prosecution’s discovery material. The next hearing was set for Oct. 30. She said Mr. Robinson will appear in the courtroom for that hearing.
Mr. Robinson is held without bail in a Utah County Jail. Court cameras did not show any images of him during the waiver hearing. When he appeared for a brief hearing two weeks ago via webcam, Mr. Robinson was wearing a suicide vest.
Ms. Nester asked the judge to delay a decision on Mr. Robinson’s continued detention in jail until the defense can review the discovery handed over by the prosecution.
“The issue is going to come down to a question of whether there is substantial evidence, which right now we’re just not in a position at all to be able to even argue to the court,” she said.
The evidence prosecutors plan to turn over, she said, includes “massive amounts of digital,” and the need to review it all made it impossible for the defense team to provide “a reasonable expectation” for when they would be ready for a preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors released to the public significant evidence tying Mr. Robinson to the shooting, including text messages to his boyfriend in which he confessed to killing Kirk, whom he accused of spreading hateful viewpoints.
Mr. Robinson’s fingerprints were lifted from the rifle used in the shooting, and he appears on video images taken inside the stairwell of the building from which prosecutors say the weapon was fired.
In addition to aggravated murder, Mr. Robinson is charged with felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury. The aggravated murder and firearm charges were elevated in severity because Mr. Robinson targeted Kirk based on his “political expression,” and did so knowing that children were present and would witness the shooting.
Kirk was the co-founder and head of Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization that mobilized the youth vote that helped President Trump win the 2024 election.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.