Officials stand on a roof overlooking the site where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot in September on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A hearing to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to try Tyler Robinson, who is accused in Kirk’s death, continues Wednesday. File Photo by Bob Strong/UPI | License Photo
A hearing about evidence against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, continued Wednesday with defense attorneys questioning DNA findings in the case.
That marks the third day of the hearing in Provo, Utah, which is expected to last until Friday. Judge Tony Graf will determine if the prosecution has enough evidence for Robinson’s trial to move forward.
Late in Tuesday’s hearing, the defense called its first witness. Lawyers questioned an FBI analyst about how Robinson’s DNA was connected to a rifle found near where Kirk was killed in September at the Utah Valley University campus and the reliability of the science.
Amanda Bakker, the analyst, spoke about the techniques she used and said all the DNA evidence found on a towel wrapped around the rifle was attributed to Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, who gave a DNA sample for comparison, and “likely” Robinson, The Hill reported. Prosecutors have said they will play a recorded statement by Twiggs during the hearing.
The Washington Post reported that prosecutors seemed to sound exasperated at times with the defense’s questions about details and DNA science.
Twiggs has not been accused of any role in the killing. Prosecutors revealed Wednesday that Twiggs was given immunity in exchange for providing recorded statements about the case.
Wednesday’s hearing started later than the prior two days. Kirk’s parents and Robinson’s parents were in attendence, as they have been each day.
According to court documents filed in September, Robinson said he’d killed Kirk in a text message with Twiggs on the day Kirk died.
Robinson has yet to enter a plea. He is charged with aggravated murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
