Judge orders trial for man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has said a judge’s decision to allow the man accused of killing him to stand trial marks “an important step” for her grieving family.

The Turning Point USA co-founder, 31, was shot dead by a sniper while addressing an outdoor gathering of students at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 last year.

Tyler Robinson, 23, was arrested after turning himself in to police and charged with aggravated murder. On Tuesday, Utah District Judge Tony Graf sided with prosecutors in advancing his case to trial, with Robinson pleading not guilty but potentially facing the death penalty if he is convicted.

Responding, Kirk said in a statement posted to X: “Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him.

“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief.

“As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process.”

The widow was in Judge Grof’s courtroom in Provo to hear the ruling, accompanied by her in-laws Robert and Kathryn Kirk. She was reportedly seen briefly burying her face in her hands when the justice discussed the possibility of showing still images of the moment Kirk was hit in the neck by the fatal bullet during last year’s attack.

Making the case against the accused, prosecutor Ryan McBride said: “Tyler James Robinson shot and killed Charlie Kirk because he disagreed with him, and he did it by firing a high-powered rifle into a crowd of over 3,000 people, which created a great risk of death that anyone would know about.”

Prosecutors previously spent five days in July presenting their “mountain of evidence” against Robinson, which included DNA linking him to the bolt-action rifle used in the killing.

They also allege Robinson left a handwritten note for his romantic partner that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”

Graf had the option to send the case to trial on a lesser charge of murder, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.

But the judge said he approved the aggravated murder charge because several people were standing close to Kirk when he was struck, only narrowly avoiding being hit themselves, among other factors.