In an intriguing development in the high-profile case involving the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson’s defense team is set to introduce a noteworthy expert witness at Friday’s hearing. This expert, who previously lent expertise to the legal team of Bryan Kohberger, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the motion to exclude news cameras from the courtroom, as detailed in recent court documents.

The expert in question, Bryan Edelman, is a California-based trial consultant who holds a Ph.D. in social psychology. Edelman conducted a telephone survey on behalf of Robinson’s defense and presented his insights on March 13. His findings emphasize the contemporary challenges posed by the internet and social media, particularly the impact of algorithmic curation and personalization on news consumption.

Robinson’s attorneys have cited Dr. Edelman’s analysis in their legal filings, arguing that these modern digital dynamics have significantly transformed the way news is consumed. They assert that for residents of the area where the alleged crime and trial are taking place, avoiding local, high-profile publicity has become increasingly difficult.

In a related context, the case draws parallels with Bryan Kohberger, who was sentenced for the 2022 stabbing deaths of four Idaho college students. Kohberger appeared at his sentencing in Boise, Idaho, on July 23, 2025. Meanwhile, Tyler Robinson faces serious charges of aggravated murder in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, and prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty. Robinson was seen in court alongside his defense attorney, Kathryn Nester, during a hearing in Provo’s Fourth District Court on January 16, 2026.

Tyler Robinson, left, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, sits beside defense attorney Kathryn Nester during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (Bethany Baker/The Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)

Edelman’s testimony is expected to delve into pretrial publicity and public opinion connected to the case against Robinson, who faces the potential death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder and Kirk’s shooting death.

Robinson, 22, is accused of firing the fatal shot from a rooftop at Utah Valley University as Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, spoke to a crowd of about 3,000 in the campus’ central courtyard.

In a summary of Edelman’s opinions filed with the court, the defense suggested that social media algorithms promote prominent local news, making it harder for potential jurors to avoid pretrial coverage of a case, including online commentary.

Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

“Experimental research indicates that hostile or uncivil comments can affect readers’ interpretations and perceptions,” the defense wrote in the new filing. “In practical terms, the same news item may be encountered alongside inflammatory commentary that can heighten emotional response and shape impressions beyond the factual content of the reporting.”

Robinson’s lawyers, Kathryn Nester, Michael Burt, Richard Novak and Staci Visser, also argued that pretrial publicity impacts the jury pool and can increase the likelihood of guilty verdicts. Judges are often tasked with balancing the public’s right to access court proceedings and a defendant’s right to a fair trial.

Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf speaks during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, on Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/Deseret News)

Edelman also worked on a controversial juror questionnaire on behalf of Kohberger’s legal team. It included questions that Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson alleged were aimed at tainting the jury pool in that case.

Multiple people contacted for the survey called police, raising concerns about violations of a gag order meant to protect details ahead of trial.

Judge John Judge, who was presiding over Kohberger’s case at the time, called it “ironic” that the defense survey could have tainted the jury pool, rather than allegations from the prosecution.

Mark Calzaretta, a jury consultant and founding partner at Magna Legal Services, told Fox News Digital previously that surveys are common practice when the defense is seeking a change of venue.

An approximation of the suspected movements of Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, based on court documents, video from the scene and conversations with law enforcement. (Fox News Digital)

Kohberger’s push for a change of venue out of Latah County succeeded, but he ultimately pleaded guilty in Ada County to avoid the death penalty weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin last year.

Robinson’s defense has already tried to have the Utah County Attorney’s Office disqualified from the case over an alleged conflict of interest. Judge Tony Graf Jr. denied the request.

People run after shots were fired during an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Other high-profile cases Edelman has worked on include the murder trial of former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and Buffalo supermarket mass shooter Payton Gendron.

Edelman’s testimony is also expected to include topics related from a declaration he filed in Gendron’s pending federal case, demographics in Utah County, where Robinson’s trial is expected to be held, and the fairness of the jury selection process.

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Rebecca Grossman, who was convicted of killing two children, is now facing additional legal challenges just before her wrongful death trial. Her former romantic partner, ex-MLB star Scott Erickson, has officially pointed the finger at her for the tragic 2020 accident that claimed the lives of two young brothers.

According to new court filings acquired by the Daily Mail, Erickson, a former World Series-winning pitcher, has denied any involvement in racing, drinking, or causing the crash. Instead, he has placed full blame on Grossman, labeling her as the ‘negligent cause’ of the fatal event.

This startling accusation marks a significant shift from their previous romantic relationship, during which they exchanged affectionate text messages. These messages are likely to be presented as evidence in the civil trial that commenced on Monday and is anticipated to run for several weeks.

Grossman and Erickson, both aged 57, are named as defendants in the lawsuit filed by the children’s parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander. The couple is seeking to hold them jointly accountable for the deaths of their sons, Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, who were struck by Grossman’s speeding white Mercedes at a pedestrian crossing in September 2020.

During a brief statement before jury selection, the Iskanders’ lawyer, Brian Panish, stated that the family is pursuing ‘tens and tens and tens of millions’ in damages for the tragic loss of their children.

In February 2024, Grossman was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of two counts each of second degree murder and vehicular manslaughter, plus one of hit-and-run.

The defense strategy by Grossman’s criminal trial attorneys was to blame the accident on Erickson who was allegedly racing her in his black Mercedes after the two had earlier shared cocktails.

But he was only given a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor reckless driving charge that was dismissed after he made a public service announcement to high school students about the importance of safe driving.

Rebecca Grossman’s ex-lover, baseball star Scott Erickson has thrown her under the bus in newly filed court documents on the eve of their wrongful death trial, the Daily Mail can reveal 

Mark and Jacob Iskander were killed on September 29, 2020, after Grossman slammed her Mercedes into them at high speed as they crossed the street

Despite the lack of criminal charges against Erickson – who was conspicuous by his absence from Grossman’s murder trial – the Iskanders named him in their civil lawsuit alongside her, holding him equally responsible for the fatal crash. 

In a new trial brief uncovered by Daily Mail, Erickson’s attorneys attempt to distance him from Grossman’s guilt and the Iskanders’ accusations against him.

They argue that Erickson:

• Was not the cause of the accident – ‘There is no evidence that his vehicle made contact with’ the brothers;
• ‘Was not racing anyone’ at the time of the crash;
• ‘Was not intoxicated/driving under the influence’

In other new pre-trial court filings, the presiding justice in the case, Judge Huey Cotton, revealed that Rebecca Grossman sent a letter to him last month which is a legal no-no.

Telling the court subsequently that he found the letter ‘absolutely unacceptable’, he said that he sealed it without reading it and after the trial he will hold a hearing where Grossman could be fined $10,000.

In her address Monday Grossman’s attorney Esther Holm called the crash a ‘tragic, horrible accident.’ and added that ‘there were other factors involved…problems with the roadway, visibility, lighting.’

She warned prospective jurors, ’This is going to be a very hard case. I ask you to follow the law.’

Erickson’s lawyer, Deborah Tropp, pointed the finger of blame at Grossman, telling the court that evidence showed ‘that Rebecca Grossman drove her Mercedes Benz through the crosswalk, violently striking and killing the boys’.

Grossman and Erickson were photographed attending a fundraising event in 2020 shortly before the accident. Erickson was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and his case was resolved in February 2022

The boys’ parents, Karim and Nancy Iskander filed a civil suit against Grossman and Erickson seeking damages over their sons’ tragic deaths. They are pictured leaving court together in Van Nuys in May 2024

She insisted that Erickson – who was driving ahead of Grossman – saw the Iskander brothers as he drove through the crosswalk, without hitting them. ‘There’s absolutely no evidence’ to contradict that,, she said.

Tropp said her client was driving at about 50mph through the crosswalk and when he looked through his rear-view mirror he ‘saw no other vehicle’ behind him.

She admitted that Erickson had a beer and two margaritas about two-and-a-half hours before the accident. ‘But he was not drunk.’

The judge granted the Iskander attorneys’ request for an injunction to stop Grossman and her husband, renowned plastic surgeon Dr Peter Grossman – who is also named in the lawsuit as the owner of the Mercedes his wife was driving – from plotting to hide millions in assets to ‘cheat’ the couple out of cash damages if they win their lawsuit.

The lawyers cited unexplained cash transactions and ‘suspicious’ property dealings of the Grossmans, particularly the recent transfer of the title to the couple’s spectacular, $13.5 million hilltop mansion in Hidden Hills to a mysterious entity called the JB Road Trust.

In his ruling, Judge Cotton said that the Iskanders had submitted ‘evidence of a recorded jailhouse phone call between Peter and Rebecca Grossman in which they openly discussed protecting’ their luxury home from the couple’s attorney.

‘During that same call, Peter Grossman admonished Rebecca Grossman to refrain from discussing the parties’ bitcoin so that the [Iskanders] would not know the true extent of their holdings.

‘Such evidence is direct evidence of the (Grossmans’) intent to hinder, delay or defraud the Iskanders’ ability to collect…..’

In the upcoming trial – where prospective jurors will first be given questionnaires to fill in Monday before jury selection actually starts a week later on April 20 – the Iskanders have submitted a giant list of 107 witnesses they can call, including Scott Erickson.

And among the items of evidence their attorneys may present is the raw, unedited footage they have subpoenaed of Peter Grossman’s January podcast interview with TV icon Dr Phil.

On Dr Phil’s podcast, Fatal Accident: Inside the Rebecca Grossman Case, Grossman claimed his wife was innocent of killing the Iskander brothers, instead blaming Erickson, whose affair with Rebecca happened when the Grossmans were separated.

The Iskanders’ legal team argued that the Dr Phil interview ‘should be produced, especially because there could be footage that was edited out for time purposes.’

Peter Grossman’s attorney fought turning over the footage – and private communications his client had with Dr Phil – contending that ‘these personal thoughts, feelings and opinions do not lead to any discoverable evidence.’  

Neither Erickson, nor Peter Grossman, showed for Monday ’s court session. Rebecca Grossman also did not appear via video from prison, as she had at a previous hearing. 

16-year-old suspect was close to Anna