PROVO, Utah — The 23-year-old charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk returned to court on Monday for a key evidence hearing — and the audience reflected Kirk’s importance to the political right.
Donald Trump Jr., one of President Donald Trump’s sons and a friend of Kirk’s, sat in the front, listening with a grave face as an officer described how Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10. Two seats away sat Jack Posobiec, a right-wing influencer who also knew Kirk. Farther down the row were members of Kirk’s family, including Erika Kirk, who now heads the group her husband founded, Turning Point USA.
Kirk’s family said they would not be commenting on the proceedings beyond a joint statement issued before Monday’s hearing. Erika Kirk and other family members left the courtroom when an officer began describing the immediate aftermath of the shooting, returning after a break.
Tyler James Robinson, who has not yet entered a plea, showed little reaction to the testimony Monday. Clad in a light gray suit jacket and a dark tie, he held a red pen and leaned forward at times to see the monitor in front of him at the defense table.
Authorities say he confessed to killing Kirk in texts to a roommate and turned himself in to authorities.
Monday was the beginning of a preliminary hearing to establish whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to a trial.
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