A Utah judge has ruled that Tyler James Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after finding sufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
Robinson, 23, pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, including aggravated murder, following Tuesday’s ruling.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, arguing that Robinson fired at Kirk from a rooftop into a crowd of more than 3,000 people at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
Prosecutors presented DNA evidence, a handwritten note and other material they said linked Robinson to the killing and established a political motive. His defence challenged the reliability of the DNA evidence and argued that the shooting targeted only Kirk and did not place others at significant risk.
Judge Tony Graf’s decision clears the way for the capital murder case to proceed, with a hearing scheduled for October 23 to determine the trial date.
Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, which became an influential force among young conservative voters.
