The Utah judge overseeing the assassination case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has yet to rule on the defense’s motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case over an alleged conflict of interest.
The defense team for Tyler Robinson — who’s been charged with the murder of Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two, on September 10 at Utah Valley University — says the office has a conflict of interest in the case due to a Utah County prosecutor’s daughter being present at Utah Valley University when the assassination took place.
The prosecution says the family member saw nothing direct and a conflict of interest has not been established. They’ve also accused the defense of stall tactics.
Judge Tony Graf said on Friday that there’s not sufficient evidence yet to warrant the expulsion of the office, but has allowed Robinson’s team to begin examining witnesses in relation to the supposed conflict of interest.
Additionally, Judge Graf blocked a pool video camera from showing Robinson after his defense team complained that shots of the accused speaking with his legal team could potentially be seen by lip readers and unfairly impact the trial.
A court “decorum” order prohibits visual recordings of conversations at the defense table — even if they’re inaudible — that could potentially be deciphered by lip readers. It also bars close-ups of written communications. The defense argued that the video feed photographer violated such a provision twice on Friday, NewsNation reported.
The sanction of the pool video camera pertained to Friday’s hearing specifically, and is not permanent.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 3, and will focus on the defense’s requests to boot the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case and limit video footage in the trial.
Separately, new reporting on Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate and alleged lover, indicates that Twiggs is no longer being protected by federal agents.
Twiggs, who lived with Robinson at the time of Kirk’s murder, has been linked to text messages about the assassination. Relatives of Twiggs say the 22-year-old identified as transgender and was “transitioning” to female.
Twiggs had an FBI security detail due to threats before he moved out of state, according to media reports. He has not been charged with any crime in connection to the assassination.
Related: Judge Orders Transcripts, Audio To Be Made Public From Hearing For Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin
.png)
.png)
