The 22-year-old Utah man charged with killing far-right activist Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance on Thursday, as his lawyers push to further limit media access in the high-profile case. Tyler Robinson faces aggravated murder charges over the 10 September shooting on the Utah Valley University campus, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
Robinson arrived at the Provo courthouse in a dress shirt, tie and slacks, with restraints on his wrists and ankles. He smiled at family members in the front row, where his mother wept. The defendant had previously appeared via video or audio feed from jail.
Judge Tony Graf is weighing the public's right to know against concerns that media attention could prejudice future jurors. A coalition of news organisations, including the Associated Press, is fighting to preserve access. Robinson's legal team and the sheriff's office have asked for a ban on cameras in the courtroom.
Graf has already made allowances, ruling that Robinson may wear street clothes in pre-trial hearings but must be physically restrained. He also prohibited filming or photographing the restraints, after lawyers argued images could bias jurors. A closed hearing was held on 24 October to discuss attire and security.
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying: 'We deserve to have cameras in there.' Meanwhile, Robinson's lawyer Kathy Nester raised concerns that digitally altered versions of his initial court photo—showing him crying or having an outburst, which did not happen—have spread misinformation. Pretrial publicity has reached the White House, with Donald Trump saying soon after the arrest: 'I hope he gets the death penalty.'
