Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson back in court as his lawyers want cameras banned
Defense attorney Richard Novak speaks as Tyler Robinson and defense attorney Kathryn Nester look on during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court on Friday, April 17, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, was back in court Friday as his lawyers fight to ban cameras in the courtroom, saying live broadcasts of the trial are a violation of his right to a fair trial.
In recent hearings and again Friday, pool cameras for the media were stationed at the rear of the courtroom, behind Robinson. That sharply limited opportunities to capture video or photos of him in court. Graf also made camera operators come before him to acknowledge they understood the rules.
Dig deeper:
Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, want the court to allow cameras. They argue the best way to guard against the misinformation and conspiracy theories that concern Robinson's defense team is to make the process transparent.
Robinson, who turned 23 on Thursday, has not yet entered a plea. His attorneys are seeking to delay his May preliminary hearing, when prosecutors must show that they have enough evidence to proceed to a trial.
DNA evidence a key part of the prosecution's case against Tyler Robinson
Big picture view:
Defense attorney Richard Novak began the hearing by arguing that Robinson’s preliminary hearing must be delayed because the prosecution has failed to turn over critical digital DNA data held by the FBI and ATF. Novak said that proceeding without this "raw data" violates Robinson’s constitutional rights and prevents the defense from verifying the reliability of the state’s scientific evidence.
"We're not asking somebody to go looking for a needle in a haystack," Novak said. "We know that these data files exist because we have summary FBI and ATF reports summarizing the data analysis that go all the way back to September."
Charlie Kirk murder suspect due in court
The man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk is expected to appear in court Friday where his defense will ask a judge to ban cameras and other media equipment from the courtroom. LiveNOW's Christina Evans previews the court hearing with legal analyst Neama Rahmani.
Robinson’s parents sat behind him in the half-full courtroom. His father lowered his head and stared at his hands while prosecutors played a Fox News clip in which a commentator identified as a former FBI agent opined that Robinson was a sociopath.
Prosecutors have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride laid out a massive "mountain of proof" against the suspected assassin, arguing that a six-month delay requested by the defense is unnecessary because the state’s evidence already far exceeds the legal bar for trial.
RELATED: Tyler Robinson hearing: Judge denies request to seal evidence in Charlie Kirk murder case
McBride identified four distinct pillars of evidence, including surveillance footage of a "limping" Robinson with a rifle down his pants, saying that it was "clearly him," matching political "etchings" on ammunition found at both the scene and Robinson's home, and multiple written confessions stating he "took the opportunity" to kill Kirk.
He further detailed DNA matches from both the FBI and ATF on the weapon and a nearby screwdriver, arguing that these "astronomical odds" of a match create a mountain of proof that far exceeds the legal requirement for probable cause.
But the defense argued Friday it cannot move forward with the hearing until law enforcement agencies turn over more details about their DNA analysis of evidence.
Robinson’s attorneys note that forensic reports indicate multiple people’s DNA was found on some items, which they say requires a more complex analysis.
Utah 4th District Court Judge Tony Graf said a final ruling will be issued at a later date via WebEx to allow the court time to fully review the evidentiary record presented in court.
The backstory:
Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder for the killing of Kirk. Kirk was speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 people on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem when investigators say Robinson fired a single shot from a building about 140 yards away, striking Kirk, 31, and killing him. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
The Source: This report includes information from FOX News, The Associated Press, and previous FOX Local reporting.