The murder case against the Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year is headed for trial, and the defendant could face the death penalty if he’s convicted.
Robinson’s lawyers tried to block a trial, arguing that prosecutors failed to show Kirk’s shooting placed others around him at risk of death. That’s an aggravating factor under the law that makes Robinson eligible for the death penalty.
Kirk’s family called the ruling “an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice. “We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief. Erika Kirk was seated beside them. The family stepped out during part of a prosecutor’s argument that described the shooting. “There is one shot. There is one bullet. There is one victim,” Ms. “There is zero evidence that there was any action taken towards other people. Robinson also faces potential sentencing enhancements if prosecutors can show he targeted Kirk for his political beliefs.
Prosecutors said Robinson shot Kirk from a rooftop more than 400 feet (122 metres) away and could have easily missed, injuring or killing other people.
“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father,” the statement said. Visser said.
Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, entered the heavily secured facility arm in arm before the hearing at the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse in Provo.
Prosecutors allege political motive
Before his death, Kirk and the organisation he co-founded, Turning Point USA, galvanised the conservative youth vote to help President Donald Trump win a second term. Defence Attorneys challenged the reliability of DNA tests and unsuccessfully fought against the public release of the Twiggs interview, warning prosecutors would characterise it as a confession.
Twiggs said in the interview that he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting.
The 23-year-old defendant turned himself in a day after the shooting at Utah Valley University last September. Robinson’s lawyers have not offered alternative theories for Kirk’s death and have focused instead on blocking the case from proceeding to trial and trying to get the death penalty taken off the table.
