The same defense attorney representing the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination is involved in the Utah murder case against Kouri Richins, where the case just suffered a major blow: the star witness is now recanting key testimony.

On Sept. 24, Utah County officials contracted Kathryn Nester to represent Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect charged in the fatal shooting of Kirk during a Utah Valley University appearance.

Nester, through a prior appointment, is also working on Richins’ case, in which prosecutors allege she poisoned her husband, 39-year-old Eric Richins, with fentanyl in March 2022. 

The shared defense connection comes amid a new development in Richins’ trial as the state’s main witness, Robert Crozier, has walked back his statement that he supplied the fentanyl prosecutors claim was used to kill Eric Richins.

Kathryn Nester arrives at Utah County District Court in Provo, Utah, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Nester is representing Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. (Alec Thornock for Fox News Digital)

Utah prosecutors are accusing Kouri Richins of poisoning her husband Eric Richins, 39, with fentanyl at their home in Kamas outside of Park City while their three young sons were sleeping. (Kouri Richins/Facebook)

Richins has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to deny her involvement in her husband’s death. Her trial is currently set to start in February 2026.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Nester for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.