Tyler Robinson’s team made a last-ditch effort to kick news cameras out of all future court proceedings Friday after a major piece of evidence was accidentally shown on camera — as they kept Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin off the witness stand.
Utah District Judge Tony Graf ruled that media couldn’t broadcast images of any new exhibits, but cameras could keep rolling on the final day of the preliminary hearing that will determine if the 23-year-old accused killer will stand trial.
Judge Graf’s ruling blocked one new exhibit from being shown in court — although the most anticipated evidence had already been shown, including video testimony from Robinson’s trans lover Lance Twiggs.
The judge will make his final ruling after oral arguments on Sept. 1 — nearly a year after the Turning Point USA founder was gunned down while speaking to students at Utah Valley University.
Robinson, 23, declined to take the stand, per his team’s advice, forgoing his last chance to speak on his own behalf before Judge Graf makes his final ruling.
Erika Kirk — who attended the hearing and fled to avoid watching graphic footage of her husband’s murder — praised the court for allowing so much evidence to be shown.
“As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day,” the Kirk family said in a statement.
Robinson’s team had fought hard for all cameras to be kept out of the courtroom, claiming broadcasts would prejudice the jury pool.
Attorneys then objected to nearly every exhibit prosecutors showed this week, including videos allegedly showing Robinson on UVU campus, text messages in which he allegedly confesses to the crime, and video testimony from Twiggs.
Their final push came after redacted images of a handwritten letter in which Robinson allegedly confessed to killing Kirk were accidentally broadcast Thursday.
“I’m informed second hand that if I want to buy this image, maybe have it framed … I could do so. Maybe put it up in my office,” said Robinson’s attorney, Richard Novak, as he blasted the prosecution and media over the slip-up.
Judge Graf chided prosecutors, noting that he himself had to request that the image be taken off the monitor.
But he denied the new motion to close the court.
Attorneys briefly cross-examined a final witness — a DNA analyst — before the hearing ended.
Kirk’s family vowed to keep pushing for future proceedings to be as transparent as possible.
“As this case moves into its next phase, we pray that truth will continue to be heard through a process that is fair, transparent, and grounded in the facts,” the family said.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
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