PROVO, Utah — The family of Charlie Kirk encountered his alleged killer for the first time in a Utah courtroom on Monday, marking the opening day of a preliminary hearing expected to last a week.
Tyler Robinson, 23, was already present when media members were permitted entry at approximately 8:55 a.m. He appeared in a grey suit, pink shirt, and black tie, with his wrists and ankles cuffed. Later, as videos of Kirk’s fatal shooting were shown to the parties and the judge, Robinson displayed no discernible reaction when the sound of the gunshot resonated.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull took the stand to present several videos, including footage of Kirk’s death that was not publicly displayed in court but was viewed by the judge and legal counsel. Two of these videos reportedly depicted the moment a sniper’s bullet struck Kirk in the neck and included audio audible to reporters.
While Judge Tony Graf Jr. recoiled and leaned away from the screen when the shot was heard in one video, Robinson remained impassive during both instances.
Kirk’s family had already exited the courtroom before these videos were played. They were scheduled to receive warnings prior to the introduction of graphic evidence and departed twice ahead of mentions of the assassination itself.
For much of the remainder of the hearing, Erika Kirk and her in-laws, Rob and Kathy Kirk, sat together, observing the proceedings intently, occasionally exchanging glances or looking down. Other relatives present included Erika’s sister, Tonya, and her niece and nephew.
At another point, with Kirk’s family out of the courtroom, Agent Hull also testified about the autopsy report, which classified Kirk’s death as a homicide resulting from a gunshot wound to the neck. During this testimony, Robinson’s mother leaned towards her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder.
The Kirks were also joined by several prominent supporters near the front, including Donald Trump Jr., his wife Bettina, and conservative commentators Jack Posobiec and Brandon Tatum.
Robinson’s parents, who typically occupy the front row, were seated in the fourth row on Monday alongside other relatives.
The day’s first witness was Officer Christopher Bagley, now with the Spanish Fork Police Department. He was on duty at Utah Valley University when Kirk was shot and killed during a Turning Point USA event there on September 10, 2025.
He testified that he believed he heard a rifle shot, not a pistol shot, from the direction of the Losee Center. He reached this conclusion after observing an empty handgun holster on the ground amidst the initial confusion and noting that the Losee Center rooftop offered a clear line of sight to where Kirk was speaking.
He proceeded to the Losee rooftop, where he discovered a black and red screwdriver and impressions in the gravel that he described as resembling a “sniper’s pad.”
He also stated that he reviewed surveillance video showing the suspect on the roof and found footprints in the grass where the suspect descended, along with scuff marks on the roof above them. Defence attorney Kathy Nester conducted approximately 10 minutes of cross-examination before the lunch recess, during which she inquired whether Bagley’s police report from that day mentioned the direction of the shot.
It did not, he confirmed. He also did not know the fate of the handgun holster.
As prosecutors intended to present some UVU surveillance video, Robinson’s defence objected. While Judge Graf had largely overruled their objections throughout the day, he sustained this one, ruling that the video, due to edits including blurred faces, zooms, and red circles, had not been properly authenticated and could not be shown.
The video is expected to be introduced later, as prosecutors stated their intention to provide an unedited version.
