Judge puts off decision on Charlie Kirk murder trial date
NEW MEXICO: A Utah judge on Friday said he needed more time to decide when to start the trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk more than a year ago, media reported.
A Utah judge postponed the decision on the trial date for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in 2021. During a hearing in Provo, Utah, District Court Judge Tony Graf heard arguments from the defense, prosecution, and a lawyer for Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk. The judge set a new hearing for November 9, according to KUTV television.
Robinson, 23, is accused of shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem and has pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including aggravated murder. Robinson's lawyers anticipate a six-to-seven-month trial, while prosecutors seek a 17-week trial starting on January 31, 2028. Erika Kirk, Kirk's widow, believes the defense request is excessively out of line with similar cases and requested the trial to commence no later than October 4, 2027.
Publicly, former President Donald Trump criticized Judge Graf's handling of the case, stating it should commence within a month. Kirk was a polarizing figure in US politics, admired by conservatives for his mobilization of young voters and criticized by opponents for his rhetoric on immigration, race, gender, and social issues. Prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk due to his opposition to gay marriage and transgender rights, whereas Robinson's defense attorney claims Kirk expressed "hatefully" about those without traditional gender identities or who were not heterosexual, yet no evidence exists to support Robinson's opposition to those views.
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