Preliminary Hearing in Charlie Kirk Murder Case Enters Key Phase as DNA Evidence and Courtroom Rulings Take Center Stage
PROVO, Utah — Preliminary hearings for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025, are continuing this week as prosecutors present evidence they say supports the criminal charges against him.
The proceedings have already produced several significant rulings from Judge Tony Graf Jr., including decisions involving courtroom media access and evidence that prosecutors may seek to introduce during the preliminary stage of the case.
One of the latest developments came Wednesday, when Graf rejected a request from Robinson’s family seeking access to all exhibits, including material prosecutors are expected to characterize as a confession involving Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s romantic partner.
The development came as prosecutors continued presenting forensic evidence connected to the September 10, 2025, shooting.
DNA Evidence Presented in Court
During Tuesday’s hearing, Jennifer Faumina, a sergeant with the Utah Department of Public Safety who was assigned to the State Bureau of Investigation at the time of the shooting, testified about DNA evidence recovered during the investigation.
Faumina read portions of a DNA analysis for the court and testified that investigators identified male DNA belonging to Twiggs on two pieces of evidence.
“Male DNA was obtained from item 7-1,” Faumina testified, explaining that the item contained DNA from two individuals, one of whom was identified as Twiggs.
She later testified that male DNA was also recovered from “item eight sub one,” which was likewise interpreted as containing DNA from two individuals, including Twiggs.
According to the evidence described in court, the two items were a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop of the Losee Center for Student Success and a towel that investigators said had been wrapped around the rifle allegedly used in the shooting.
The testimony is part of the prosecution’s broader effort to establish a chain of evidence connecting Robinson and other individuals to the investigation.
The defense will have an opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and question witnesses as the preliminary hearing continues.
Utah Supreme Court Declines to Delay Hearing
The hearing was able to proceed this week after the Utah Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal filed by Robinson’s defense.
The defense had challenged two earlier decisions by Judge Graf, including his rulings concerning cameras in the courtroom and the admission of certain hearsay evidence during the preliminary hearing.
The state’s highest court declined the request to hear the interlocutory appeal and also determined that the defense’s request for a stay had become moot.
The decision effectively cleared the way for the preliminary hearing to continue as scheduled.
The issue of courtroom cameras has been a recurring point of disagreement between the defense and the court.
Robinson’s attorneys previously asked Graf to prohibit cameras during proceedings, but the judge rejected a blanket ban. Instead, Graf established a system under which requests for electronic media coverage would be considered individually for each hearing.
Under that framework, media organizations seeking to use cameras or other electronic equipment must submit requests at least 14 days before a proceeding. The defense or prosecution can object, but Graf retains final authority over whether coverage will be permitted.
Judge Rejects Most Defense Requests
As the current preliminary hearing approached, Robinson’s defense again sought restrictions on camera coverage.
Graf rejected nearly all of those requests.
The judge granted one limited request involving still photography on the opening day of the hearing. A media organization that submitted its application after the court’s deadline was prohibited from taking photographs that day.
The courtroom-access dispute highlights the intense public interest surrounding the case, which has drawn national attention because of Kirk’s prominence as a conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA.
The preliminary hearing is not a trial and does not determine Robinson’s ultimate guilt or innocence. Its purpose is to determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed toward trial.
As the hearing continues, prosecutors are expected to present additional witnesses and forensic evidence, while defense attorneys will have opportunities to challenge the reliability and significance of the evidence being introduced.
For now, the case remains centered on the evidence surrounding the September 2025 shooting, with DNA findings, physical evidence, witness testimony and disputed courtroom procedures emerging as key issues.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue throughout the week, with additional evidence potentially shaping the next major stage of one of Utah’s most closely watched criminal cases.
