Erika Kirk begs judge to speed up Tyler Robinson trial after five-day evidence hearing that ended WITHOUT a decision
Tyler Robinson’s team made a last-ditch effort to kick news cameras out of all future court proceedings Friday after a major piece of evidence was accidentally shown on camera — as Erika Kirk demanded a judge rule quickly on whether he’ll stand trial for her husband’s murder.
The Kirk family submitted a request just after a week-long preliminary hearing against Robinson ended — after months of effort by the defense to delay proceedings.
The request urges the Fourth District Court of Utah to make its probable cause ruling no later than Sept. 1 — almost a year after the Turning Point USA founder was gunned down at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Erika Kirk leaves the Provo courthouse during Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing.Charles McClintock Wilson/Zuma / SplashNews.com
Tyler Robinson appears in court following his arrest for allegedly killing Charlie Kirk.via REUTERS
Judge Tony Graf addresses council during Robinson’s preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah.TESS CROWLEY/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock
“The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, and he must receive one. He is not, however, entitled
to cause undue delay in the criminal justice process,” the document reads.
Oral arguments were already scheduled to begin on Sept. 1, but Robinson’s team spent months working to delay proceedings — tangling up the court in matters of admissible evidence and whether the hearing could be broadcast.
Robinson’s team spent hours during the hearing debating which items of evidence could be shown to the public, including graphic videos of Kirk being shot in the neck — allegedly by Robinson, 23, using his grandfather’s hunting rifle.
They spent nearly all of Friday morning once again urging Judge Tony Graf to ban media cameras from the courtroom.
Prosecutors and the Kirk family have fought to keep things as speedy and transparent as possible to shut down rampant speculation and conspiracy theories that have marred the case.
“As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day,” Kirk’s family said in a statement.
The public was able to view some of the state’s most damning evidence this week, including video showing Robinson at UVU on the day of the murder, incriminating alleged text messages, and video testimony from Robinson’s trans lover Lance Twiggs — who said Robinson confessed the crime to him multiple times before finally turning himself in.
Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University shortly before his death.Getty Images
Kirk and his wife Erika, who has pushed for speed and transparency in the trial.@mrserikakirk / Instagram
Reporters set up outside the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse in Provo, Utah.The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
Charlie and Erika Kirk with one of their children in an undated social media photo.Instagram/mrserikakirk
Bullet casings allegedly engraved with messages from Tyler Robinson.AP Photo
Tyler Robinson in court in the weeks after Kirk’s death.via REUTERS
Erika Kirk sobbed inside the courtroom Wednesday after a Utah judge allowed certain parts of the bombshell video to be redacted.
“[Redacting the video] suggests to the public that something else is in there, that something else lurks in there that isn’t,” her attorney Jeffrey Neiman said.
Robinson faces an aggravated murder charge, among numerous other felonies.
He could face the death penalty if convicted.
