Kirk murder suspect appears in court for first time, smirks and chuckles before hearing
The 22-year-old accused of murdering Charlie Kirk has appeared in person in court for the first time dressed in plain clothes.
The man accused of murdering right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk has made his first in-person court appearance, with the 22-year-old seen smiling and laughing with his legal team before the hearing began.
Tyler Robinson appeared in court in Utah for the first time on Thursday, US time, three months after Kirk was fatally shot in front of crowds at a Utah Valley University event on September 10.
Robinson, who has been charged with aggravated murder, discharging a firearm, and other offences over the shooting, had previously only appeared in court via video or audio feed from jail.
In one instance, he wore a green sleeveless vest, designed to prevent him from taking his life.
Robinson was seen smiling at people in a row reserved for family as he entered the courtroom on Thursday, and smiled again as he spoke to his legal team before the hearing started.
During the hearing, the 22-year-old appeared calm as he sat flanked between his lawyers dressed in a light blue button-up shirt, a tie, and khaki pants.
A judge allowed Robinson to appear in court in regular clothes during a pre-trial hearing after his defence team, who also argued he should appear without shackles, claimed the intense media coverage of his appearance had “polluted the waters of justice”.
The court denied the request for him to go unrestrained, citing security concerns. Media are also not allowed to show him in handcuffs as he enters and exits the room.
The judge on Thursday closed the first part of the hearing to the public to hear from both sides behind closed doors on what should be sealed, before opening the court back up to he public.
Robinson’s lawyers have asked the judge to limit public access to the trial.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for the case to be open to the public.
“We deserve to have cameras in there,” she told Fox News last month. “Why not be transparent? There’s nothing to hide.”
After surveillance photos were released of Kirk’s suspected shooter in September, Robinson was recognised by his parents as a person of interest.
When contacted by his father via phone about the images, Robinson “implied that he planned to take his own life”, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told a court in September.
“Robinson’s parents were able to convince him to meet at their home,” he added.
The 22-year-old’s parents urged him to speak with a family friend, who was a retired deputy sheriff and convinced him to turn himself in.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea to his charges.
Originally published as Kirk murder suspect appears in court for first time, smirks and chuckles before hearing
