Utah judge orders trial for man accused of killing Charlie Kirk

A Utah judge has ordered Tyler James Robinson to stand trial for the killing of Charlie Kirk, ruling that prosecutors presented enough evidence to proceed with the case.

Robinson, 23, allegedly shot Kirk in the neck during a rally on a university campus in September 2025. Judge Tony Graf issued the order after a preliminary hearing in which prosecutors and defense lawyers argued over whether the case should go forward.

Prosecutors pointed to messages in which Robinson allegedly admitted the killing to friends. His defense focused largely on challenging the reliability of DNA analysis that investigators used to link him to the weapon. After the ruling, Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to several U.S. media outlets.

“

The defendant, Tyler James Robinson, is hereby bound over for trial.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, described the decision as meaningful for the family’s effort to seek justice. “The decision rendered today, which comes nearly a year after Charlie was taken from us, represents an important step in our family’s quest to obtain justice for him,” she wrote on X.

Kirk, 31, led Turning Point, described as the largest youth organization on the American right, and devoted it to supporting Donald Trump during the latest presidential campaign. His killing caused a major political shock in the United States. Kirk was a controversial figure, a Christian nationalist who strongly defended the traditional family and sharply criticized LGBT people and transgender people.

“

The decision rendered today, which comes nearly a year after Charlie was taken from us, represents an important step in our family’s quest to obtain justice for him.