Murder trial for Charlie Kirk's accused killer set for June 2028 in Utah
A Utah judge has set June 21, 2028 as the start date for the trial of Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk's family called the ruling "deeply disappointing."
Utah judge sets June 2028 trial date for Charlie Kirk assassination suspect
Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial starting June 21, 2028, after a Utah judge announced the date on Monday, cbsnews.com reports.
Judge Tony Graf of the Fourth District courthouse in Provo set the date following competing requests from all three parties. Attorneys for Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, had asked for a trial no later than October 4, 2027. Robinson's defence team sought a date in the third quarter of 2029, citing the volume of discovery material. Prosecutors proposed January 2028.
Kirk's family described the ruling as "deeply disappointing." "While nothing will restore the time we have lost with Charlie, every additional day without justice prolongs our family's pain and forces us to wait even longer for accountability," the family said in a statement.
The court has allocated 105 court days for the proceedings, with monthly pretrial status conferences scheduled to "protect the constitutional rights at stake." A hearing on April 11, 2028 will determine whether attorneys on both sides can complete essential preparation before jury selection begins. Jury questionnaires are due May 3, 2028. Trial proceedings are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 4B.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder. He is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk, 31, as the activist addressed several thousand people at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The defendant turned himself in the day after the shooting. His lawyers have not put forward alternative theories regarding Kirk's death.
In September, Judge Graf ruled in favour of prosecutors, finding sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on the aggravated murder charge. Robinson faces the death penalty, life in prison without parole, or 25 years to life with parole if convicted.
Utah County prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk for his political beliefs. They say a bullet recovered from the rifle used in the shooting was engraved with the words "Hey Facist! CATCH!" and that Robinson wrote in a text message about Kirk: "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."
Robinson's attorneys stated this week that they must work through tens of thousands of files handed over by prosecutors. They plan extensive investigations into Robinson's background in search of mitigating factors that could affect sentencing if he is convicted, and intend to devote "substantial time" to matters including jury selection.
Kirk was a prominent figure in conservative politics who helped mobilise young voters around President Trump during the 2024 election. Trump commented on the case last month via social media, saying Robinson should be tried "within a month" and criticising Judge Graf — a former prosecutor appointed to the bench last year — for "taking forever to ask questions that people already know the answer to." Court proceedings have already been under way for more than a year.
Source: Google News MT