Ahead of the much-anticipated preliminary hearings for Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, his parents, and his sister say the family will not be commenting during the judicial process.
Erika Kirk, alongside Charlie’s parents Kathy and Rob, will be in the courtroom together throughout the week, a source familiar with the situation told The Daily Wire. They say in a statement provided ahead of hearings that are expected to last all week that they will be there as spectators, and that the proceedings are a “painful reminder of his death.”
“Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children,” the joint statement reads. “We remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness we have received. This outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time. We ask for continued privacy as we navigate this process and immense grief.”
The Daily Wire is told this will be the only statement provided during the preliminary hearing that starts Monday in Provo, Utah.
The five-day hearing happens roughly 10 months after Charlie was murdered in front of thousands at a Turning Point USA college campus tour on Utah Valley University’s campus. Judge Tony Graf will decide whether the prosecution has enough evidence against Robinson, who faces an aggravated murder charge among other offenses, with the death penalty as a possible punishment. Robinson hasn’t entered a plea.
Utah is a “hearing” state, which is why this hearing takes place instead of the case going before a grand jury, which is typically what happens in federal felony cases before a trial can take place.
Starting on Monday the state will lay out evidence against the 23-year-old, who is accused of shooting the TPUSA founder on September 10, 2025. Robinson turned himself in after an intense manhunt.
The “world is going to see what the state has,” the source familiar with the proceedings told The Daily Wire.
Often called a “mini trial,” this week is the first time the public will see what evidence the prosecution plans to use to convict him of murder.
The state will call witnesses and present evidence and the defense will cross examine. The state is under no obligation to present all evidence, just as Robinson’s team isn’t required to present all of its findings to the judge.
The judge will look at the evidence through a lens favorable to the state, per law.
It’s expected the state will play a video of a recorded statement from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate and lover, during the hearing. It will be the first public statement from Twiggs, who was on the receiving end of Robinson’s confession through text messages and a hand-written letter, per authorities.
This hearing was originally scheduled for May, but the defense successfully delayed by filing pre-trial motions.
The legal back and forth leading up to Monday’s hearing mainly revolved around the argument of cameras in the courtroom. Judge Graf sided with the state and cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, but electronic devices won’t be permitted.
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