Erika Kirk and prosecutors have fought to keep the trial of Charlie’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson as open as possible — in an attempt to quell sick conspiracy theories about his murder.
A hearing Monday was the first of five days of evidence against Robinson — a Utah legal procedure that is being used to determine if the case can go to trial.
Robinson’s defense, meanwhile, has pushed to keep cameras and details of bombshell evidence out of court to avoid swaying potential jurors against him.
The judge has split the difference — allowing cameras in court but not allowing videos of Kirk’s September murder at Utah Valley University and other evidence exhibits to be broadcast.
Access to the trial for journalists has been limited.
But whacko speculators still claim the death of the Turning Point USA founder was an inside job.
Fake claims that Kirk died at the behest of Israel, the Trump administration, or other high-level interlopers have continued to circulate — some of which are led by self-styled Kirk confidant Candace Owens.
TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet sought to disavow Owens once and for all on Monday.
“Candace, you and Charlie were not friends. He managed you. He kept things light and polite so you wouldn’t turn on the org,” Kolvet posted to X on Monday as Utah prosecutors laid out evidence against Robinson.
“Show me any proof of genuine friendship from the last 12 months of his life? From the last 18 months? From the last 24 months? Not some 2018 text.
“… This is your central, foundational lie.”
In court, prosecutors interviewed witnesses, showed graphic videos of Kirk’s death by long-range rifle, and mapped out the crime scene — just a few of the scores of exhibits planned for this week’s proceedings, which will determine whether the 23-year-old accused gunman faces enough evidence to go on trial.
Erika Kirk has pushed for video evidence to be admitted in court and broadcast by the media, despite Robinson’s defense filing motions to suppress it.
Law enforcement agents who witnessed Kirk’s death testified Monday that they heard what sounded like a rifle shot and saw a figure carrying a long, thin object drop from a rooftop near where Kirk was speaking.
State prosecutors also showed graphics of Robinson’s alleged path to and from campus and doorbell camera footage of him driving to a nearby neighborhood in his car.
The abundance of evidence is meant to show that, without a doubt, Robinson alone should face murder charges, for which he could face the death penalty.
His defense, however, has railed against the prosecution for its comments to the press, which they say has violated a court gag order to protect the jury pool from being biased by the press.
The hearing will continue through this week, during which prosecutors are expected to show video testimony from Robinson’s lover Lance Twiggs — to whom the accused gunman allegedly admitted to the shooting in text messages.
Read the full article here
