Charlie Kirk murder: Defense attorneys for suspect Tyler Robinson seeking to disqualify prosecutors
FILE-Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with shooting and killing Charlie Kirk is due back in court Friday where his attorneys are asking the judge to disqualify prosecutors in the case over an alleged conflict of interest.
On Sept. 10, Charlie Kirk was speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem as the first stop of his American Comeback Tour.
Investigators say Tyler Robinson fired a single shot from a building about 140 yards away, striking Kirk and killing him.
Court filings reveal that an 18-year-old child of a deputy county attorney was at the event. The child, whose name was redacted from court filings, later texted with their father in the Utah County Attorney’s Office to describe the chaotic events around the shooting, the filings from prosecutors and defense lawyers state.
RELATED: Charlie Kirk murder suspect Tyler Robinson makes first in-person court appearance
RELATED: Charlie Kirk murder suspect Tyler Robinson makes first in-person court appearance
Robinson’s defense attorneys say that the personal relationship is a conflict of interest that "raises serious concerns about past and future prosecutorial decision-making in this case," according to court documents. They also argue that the "rush" to seek the death penalty against Robinson is evidence of "strong emotional reactions" by the prosecution and merits the disqualification of the entire team.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder and prosecutors with the Utah County Attorney’s Office plan to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Prosecutors have said text messages and DNA evidence connect Robinson to the killing. Robinson reportedly texted his romantic partner that he targeted Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred."
Robinson’s attorneys and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom. Several national and local news organizations filed a motion to preserve media access to the case.
Graf has prohibited the media from publishing photos, videos and live broadcasts that show Robinson in restraints to help protect his presumption of innocence before a trial. He has not ruled on whether to ban cameras in the courtroom.
Prosecutors are expected to lay out their case against Robinson at a preliminary hearing scheduled to begin May 18.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by FOX News, The Associated Press, and previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting. This story was reported from Orlando.