Judge sends Charlie Kirk murder case to trial

Utah District Judge Tony Graf has ruled that the murder case against Tyler Robinson, accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will proceed to trial. If convicted, Robinson could face the death penalty. On Tuesday, Graf agreed with prosecutors who presented a "mountain of evidence" supporting the claim that Robinson fatally shot Kirk while speaking to a large crowd at Utah Valley University last September.

Robinson, 23, turned himself in a day after the incident, and his defense has not presented any alternative theories for Kirk's death.

Kirk's family welcomed the judge's decision, stating that every step in the process carries the weight of the loss they have experienced, particularly the pain their children face growing up without their father. Prosecutors claimed that Robinson shot Kirk from a rooftop over 400 feet away, knowing he could have missed and potentially killed others at the open-air event.

Defense attorney Staci Visser argued that prosecutors were attempting to force the case into Utah's aggravated murder statute, as there was minimal evidence that others were put at risk by the shooting. Prosecutors accused Robinson of targeting Kirk due to their political disagreement, citing a bullet found in the rifle engraved with "Hey Facist! CATCH!" and a text message Robinson allegedly sent expressing a desire to "take out Charlie Kirk."