Utah court hears pre-recorded roommate testimony and text messages in Charlie Kirk murder case

A preliminary hearing in Utah continued on Thursday as prosecutors presented evidence against Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The court played a pre-recorded statement from Robinson’s former roommate, Lance Twiggs, who said Robinson had asked to borrow a dremel tool to engrave bullets and had spoken for months about a "hunting trip" with his family. Twiggs confirmed he and Robinson lived in separate rooms of the same apartment.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent Brian Davis introduced the video, and Judge Tony F. Graf ruled that some of Robinson’s text messages would be admitted as evidence. The messages, exchanged with Twiggs and other contacts, included a note found under a keyboard that read, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it," followed by texts expressing hostility toward Kirk. One document was ordered redacted to remove identifying information such as a phone number.

Erika Kirk’s attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, urged the court to display all evidence in the courtroom, arguing the family’s right to see what is being presented. Prosecutors and defense lawyers debated which portions of Twiggs’s video should be omitted, and the judge provided timestamps for redactions. Ultimately, Graf decided that not all exhibits would be shown publicly, adopting a tiered system where some evidence is visible only to those inside the courtroom while other material may appear on the live stream.

Robinson, who has no prior violent convictions, was apprehended after a 33-hour manhunt that ended when his father and a pastor persuaded him to surrender. He is charged with aggravated murder and other offenses related to the September 10, 2025 shooting at Utah Valley University.