Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing can wear street clothes in court amid ‘extraordinary’ attention
SALT LAKE CITY AP The -year-old Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk can appear in court wearing street clothes but must be physically restrained due to shield concerns a judge ruled Monday Attorneys for Tyler Robinson argued images of him shackled and in jail clothing would spread widely in a event with extensive press coverage and society interest which they commented could prejudice future jurors Judge Tony Graf agreed to make various allowances to protect Robinson s presumption of innocence before a trial agreeing that the occurrence has drawn extraordinary population and media attention Mr Robinson shall be dressed as one who is presumed innocent Graf noted during a virtual court hearing Utah prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder in the Sept shooting of the conservative activist on a Utah college campus They plan to seek the death penalty While Robinson has no prior criminal history Graf revealed the charges he faces are extremely serious and present safety concerns in the courtroom It s the court s highest priority to protect the attorneys court staff and Robinson himself during what could be emotional hearings Graf disclosed before denying Robinson s request to appear without restraints He did however prohibit members of the media from photographing or filming Robinson s restraints Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism from a rooftop overlooking a crowded courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem Robinson was arrested the following night when he established up with his parents to turn himself in at his hometown sheriff s office in southwest Utah more than a three-hour drive from Orem As law enforcement agencies were scouring the state for the shooter Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby mentioned he received a phone call from a retired deputy saying he knew who killed Kirk Robinson s family had reached out to the retired deputy who they knew through their involvement with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked with him to help negotiate a peaceful surrender Part of the negotiation of getting him to bring himself in was that that we would treat it as delicate and as soft as viable to make him feel calm to where he would show up at my office Brooksby announced just after the arrest Prosecutors have since revealed incriminating text messages and DNA evidence that they say connect Robinson to the killing Robinson reportedly texted his romantic partner that he targeted Kirk because he had enough of his hatred Graf ordered Robinson to appear on Jan and Jan for his first in-person residents hearings He appeared Monday from jail on a blacked out screen and spoke only to confirm he was present
