Tyler Robinson's defense seeks to seal evidence and limit public access in Charlie Kirk murder case

Tyler Robinson, a 22‑year‑old accused of fatally shooting Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, is asking Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf to close portions of his upcoming preliminary hearing (scheduled for July 6‑10, 2026) and seal dozens of exhibits. The defense argues that public broadcasts of testimony, Discord messages, text excerpts, surveillance video and forensic reports could “infect the potential jury pool” and bias future jurors. In a separate motion, the lawyers seek sanctions against prosecutors for commenting on the case outside the courtroom.

Prosecutors, who plan to seek the death penalty, say the sealed material includes DNA evidence linking Robinson to the rifle, a note to a romantic partner stating his intent, and other “reliable hearsay” that is typically admissible at a preliminary hearing. The judge previously denied a request to ban cameras but allowed limited restrictions on media photography. The case has drawn national attention due to Kirk’s prominence in conservative politics.