Flaw in Charlie Kirk Case Could Derail Everything
A top Utah defense attorney has warned that prosecutors may be facing a serious vulnerability in the case against Tyler Robinson — the 22-year-old charged with the September 10 murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
According to Skye Lazaro, a criminal defense attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker in Salt Lake City, the timeline of events surrounding Robinson’s alleged actions “could definitely be bad for them” if inconsistencies emerge. Speaking to Fox News, Lazaro emphasized that “there is just so much we don’t know yet as this case develops.”
Mounting Questions Around Timeline and Evidence
Court filings reveal troubling gaps in the prosecution’s timeline. Text messages between Robinson and his roommate, Lance Twiggs, appear to show Robinson taking responsibility for Kirk’s death — but notably, none of the messages are timestamped.
This missing detail could prove crucial. Prosecutors claim Robinson returned to the crime scene roughly 33 hours after the shooting, where police later recovered the firearm believed to have been used. However, investigators have yet to clarify when Robinson interacted with a nearby police officer, a moment that may be central to establishing his whereabouts and intent.
Lazaro noted that the timeline must align perfectly for the prosecution’s case to stand: “If it doesn’t line up in a way that makes sense, it could definitely be bad for them.”
A Defense Strategy in Motion
The defense team — led by attorneys Kathy Nester, Richard Novak, Michael Burt, and Staci Visser — has already delayed Robinson’s waiver hearing by a month and is expected to extend the discovery process for up to a year.
Court documents reveal that Robinson’s lawyers are meticulously examining law enforcement conduct. If it turns out that the officer’s body camera footage of the initial encounter wasn’t recorded or preserved, the defense could argue mishandling of evidence — a move that may severely weaken the state’s case.
Fox News Digital reported that police initially viewed Robinson’s interaction as benign since “hundreds of individuals had left their things behind” during the chaos following Kirk’s shooting. The officer performed only a standard license plate check, not realizing at the time that Robinson would later be identified as the prime suspect.
Court Allows Civilian Appearance to Preserve Fairness
Judge Tony F. Graf Jr., presiding over Utah’s Fourth Judicial District Court, ruled Monday that Robinson may appear in civilian clothing — not jail attire — during future hearings, citing the presumption of innocence.
In a court filing, Robinson’s attorneys argued that pretrial media coverage “relentlessly focused on Robinson’s demeanor and appearance during his jail-house court appearances and have polluted the waters of justice in this case.”
Judge Graf acknowledged the intense public scrutiny, stating that while images of Robinson in custody attire are likely to circulate, “the presumption of innocence remains.” He concluded, “Mr. Robinson’s right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire and Mr. Robinson shall be dressed as one who is presumed innocent.”
The Broader Implication
Charlie Kirk’s killing — a shocking act committed in front of 3,000 attendees at a conservative event — has deeply shaken the movement President Donald J. Trump has championed for years. The case’s outcome will not only determine Robinson’s fate but also test whether the justice system can withstand political pressure and media bias when the victim is a high-profile conservative voice.