Tyler Robinson Strikes to Block Video of Charlie Kirk Capturing From Being Launched as Proof
Attorneys for Tyler James Robinson have formally objected to prosecutors introducing and publicly displaying a graphic video of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at an upcoming pretrial hearing, arguing the footage is irrelevant to the legal issue before the court and risks severely prejudicing potential jurors.
In a nine-page filing submitted January 27, Robinson’s defense team objected to the State of Utah’s proposed close-up color video with audio that captures the moments before, during, and after Kirk was shot. The objection was filed ahead of a February 3 evidentiary hearing on Robinson’s motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case due to an alleged conflict of interest.
The defense argues the hearing has nothing to do with the cause of Kirk’s death or Robinson’s guilt or innocence, but instead focuses narrowly on whether a family member of a prosecutor personally witnessed events at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, creating an actual or apparent conflict of interest.
According to the defense, prosecutors have already submitted still photographs and diagrams showing Kirk’s location and the proximity of witnesses, which Robinson does not oppose. Those materials, attorneys argue, are sufficient to address the limited factual questions relevant to the disqualification motion.
Robinson’s lawyers claim the video has no probative value in determining whether the prosecution team should be disqualified. They also argue that even if the court finds minimal relevance, the footage should be excluded under Rule 403 due to the danger of unfair prejudice.
The filing describes it as “graphic and likely highly disturbing” and warns that if played in open court, the video could be immediately broadcast nationwide and internationally. Defense attorneys say such exposure would jeopardize Robinson’s constitutional right to a fair trial in what they note is a capital case.
“This is the most momentous judgment a jury can be asked to make,” the defense wrote, citing a prior Utah Supreme Court ruling emphasizing the need to keep capital proceedings free from bias and prejudice.
Robinson’s attorneys argue that public dissemination of the video before trial would not serve the administration of justice and could irreparably taint the jury pool. Importantly, the filing does not seek to permanently bar the video from being introduced at trial. Instead, the defense asks the court to exclude the footage from the upcoming pretrial hearing or, if admitted, to keep it sealed and not publicly displayed.
Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September, remains charged with aggravated murder and related offenses, with prosecutors signaling they intend to seek the death penalty. In recent hearings before Utah’s Fourth District Court in Provo, Robinson’s defense team has filed multiple motions aimed at limiting evidence and reshaping the prosecution.
The defense has also moved to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office, citing a claimed conflict of interest after it was revealed that a prosecutor’s adult child was present at the event and allegedly witnessed the shooting. Prosecutors have rejected that argument, maintaining that no ethical violation exists and that the office remains capable of handling the case impartially.
Meanwhile, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has formally urged the court to move the case forward without unnecessary delays, emphasizing the constitutional right to a speedy trial as the defense continues to file motions. Judges have not yet ruled on several of the pending requests, and additional hearings are scheduled in early February as the court weighs evidentiary limits, prosecutorial authority, and trial scheduling. The case remains in its pretrial phase, with no jury selection date set as legal maneuvering continues.