Judge at Tyler Robinson hearing flinches watching previously unseen footage of Charlie Kirk's killing in court

A judge viewing footage of the moment right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was shot in Utah Valley University visibly flinched in court.

Kirk’s alleged killer Tyler Robinson is accused of shooting him from a rooftop while the Turning Point founder was hosting an event.

According to police, he turned himself in the following day amid an intense manhunt.

He is currently in court for a five-day preliminary hearing. A judge will review the evidence against him and determine if he is to stand trial. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

The hearing was attended by Kirk’s widow Erika, who was accompanied by Charlie’s parents Robert and Kathryn Kirk.

It’s the first time she’s come face-to-face with Robinson, and according to the Daily Mail’s court reporter, she was visibly emotional.

Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of Charlie Kirk, also attended the hearing to support her.

Erika and Kirk’s parents left the courtroom shortly after Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley began his sensitive testimony concerning Charlie’s death.

Yesterday (6 July), Utah State District Judge Tony Graf spent much of the hearing considering what evidence was admissible if Robinson’s case proceeds to trial.

Robinson’s attorneys argue certain footage showing Kirk’s death should not be shown to a jury, since the people who recorded it will not be in court as witnesses and the videos could have been tampered with.

Other footage is simply considered too graphic to be shown to the public.

Yesterday, footage of the moment Kirk was killed was played for the first time in court.

With the court deciding the video should not be included on the hearing’s livestream, the sound was turned off on the broadcast, while the monitor was only visible for Judge Graf.

The judge can be seen watching the heartbreaking footage in stony silence, appearing to flinch at one point.

He finished watching without comment, simply saying: “And that concludes state’s exhibit 8.”

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. In Utah, a murder must have aggravating factors to qualify for capital punishment.

Lawyers argue Robinson’s alleged crime meets this criteria, since the actions he is accused of endangered the lives of others.

He is charged with aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Other exhibits included on an evidence list submitted last year, which are likely to be discussed in court over the coming week, are a video from Washington County sheriff's office from the day Robinson turned himself in and recorded testimony from his roommate.

Timeline of events following Charlie Kirk’s assassination

10 September 2025 - Day of the attack

12pm - Kirk presents a scheduled event at Utah Valley University (UVU)

12.23pm - While taking a question on gun violence, Kirk is shot in the neck by a single bullet. Footage shows the podcaster slumped over before being carried in a car as the crowd erupts into panic.

2.40pm - President Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s passing on Truth Social, writing: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.

"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”

11 September 2025 - Gun and engraved bullet casings discovered

At a press conference, authorities say they had discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, as well as some bullet casings with phrases like ‘Hey fascist, catch!’ and ‘notices, bulges, OWO, what's this?’. The latter is a reference to the furry subculture, which centres on human-like animals.

Meanwhile, the FBI releases images and video of a 'person of interest'. Tyler Robinson's mother allegedly recognises him and his parents confront him.

Later that day, Robinson turns himself in to the police.

12 September 2025 - Tyler Robinson’s arrest announced

While appearing on Fox and Friends, Trump says a suspect was in custody: “Essentially, someone that was very close to him turned him in.”

Later, authorities announce Robinson’s arrest, who, according to investigators, had confessed to his father, leading to him calling a family friend, who then called the US Marshals, who detained the 22-year-old.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, gives her first statement after her husband’s passing, saying that his movement ‘is not going anywhere’.

She adds: “You have no idea the fire you've ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”

16 September 2025 - Charges against Robinson announced

Prosecutors reveal the charges against Robinson included aggravated murder, commission of a violent offence in the presence of a child, two counts of witness tampering, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm. Robinson makes his first initial court appearance.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said prosecutors will seek the death penalty if he is convicted, adding: “I do not take this decision lightly.”

21 September 2025 - Erika Kirk says she ‘forgives’ his killer

At Kirk’s memorial service on 21 September, the 37-year-old takes to the stage to pay tribute to her husband and reveal why she’d ‘forgiven’ his killer.

“My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said.

"On the cross, our saviour said: ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’

"That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do."

26 July 2026 - Robinson back in court

A five-day preliminary hearing begins, where prosecutors lay out the evidence against Robinson.