Share and Follow
() The man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk was expected to appear in court Monday for a largely procedural hearing expected to formalize the appointment of his defense team.
Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and plan to seek the death penalty.
The Utah state court system gives people accused of crimes an option to waive their legal right to a preliminary hearing and instead schedule an arraignment where they can enter a plea.
Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Robinson was arrested when he showed up with his parents at his hometown sheriff’s office in southwest Utah, more than a three-hour drive from the site of the shooting, to turn himself in.
During the trial, prosecutors are expected to present DNA evidence, alleged confessions and other materials, all to convince the judge there’s enough to send the case to trial. Court documents obtained by showed what prosecutors said was a text exchange between Robinson and his roommate, which includes a confession.
Legal experts have told that, although the shooting has drawn national attention and the FBI is helping investigate, Robinson’s case doesn’t meet the criteria to be tried federally.
Homicides are generally prosecuted at the state level. They only become federal crimes in limited instances, such as the killing of a federal official, a crime on federal property, or a federal hate crime, none of which apply in Robinson’s case.
Utah prosecutors are leading the case, with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives playing a supporting role.
Both state and federal courts can seek the death penalty, but a significant difference is the use of cameras in the courtroom. Because Kirk’s death is a state case, proceedings can be televised, meaning much of the trial could play out publicly.
‘s Rob Taub and Marcus Espinoza contributed to this report.