A Utah judge decided Monday that the alleged killer of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk may face a relaxed approach to constitutional rights during initial hearings. Judge Tony Graf Jr. discussed the evidence and testimony to be allowed in Tyler Robinson’s case.
The 23-year-old defendant opposed the prosecution’s request to use hearsay for establishing probable cause. Additionally, Robinson wanted his former roommate to testify in person. Judge Graf noted Utah’s constitution permits hearsay evidence and stated that constitutional rights could be relaxed at this stage as it is not the full trial.
Robinson, charged with aggravated murder for Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025, is yet to plea. The incident occurred while Kirk spoke at Utah Valley University. Newsweek has reached out to Robinson’s attorneys for comments through email.
Robinson’s Requests
Robinson’s defense team urged the judge to call his former roommate to testify live during preliminary hearings, arguing that Robinson needs to confront and cross-examine the witness. The prosecution claimed Robinson targeted Kirk over text messages indicating his frustration with Kirk’s perceived hate.
Judge Graf denied the request for live testimony, noting the challenge to witness credibility will occur later. The judge also rejected the defense’s plea to block hearsay evidence, emphasizing the preliminary hearing is not a trial and does not establish guilt or innocence.
Additionally, Judge Graf deferred his decision on whether prosecutors might face sanctions for media statements concerning bullet fragments found on Kirk. A decision might be forthcoming by Friday.
Next Steps
The preliminary hearing for Robinson is scheduled for July. The full trial will be at a later date. If Robinson is found guilty, he may face the death penalty, an outcome his legal team seeks to avoid.
This article contains contributions from The Associated Press. For further comments, contact Newsweek editors Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas.