News/Commentary

Charlie Kirk family comes face to face with accused assassin for first time

July 7, 2026 | | Print Article

As the family of Charlie Kirk attended the preliminary hearing of his alleged killer, evidence admission included starkly different reactions to footage from Tyler Robinson and the judge.

Months after Erika Kirk publicly forgave Robinson, the man accused of assassinating her husband on September 10, 2025, she joined family members and friends for the beginning of his trial in Provo, Utah. There, the defendant’s reportedly unmoving reaction to footage of the shooting was only amplified by District Court Judge Tony Graf Jr., who was seen visibly flinching.

Throughout the course of the proceeding, the defense routinely objected to admission of evidence, including footage said to have been provided by Turning Point USA. Fox News correspondent Matt Finn reported, “Turning Point USA provided the court with its HD video of the Charlie Kirk shooting. It was entered into evidence and played in court, but the TV camera was not allowed to broadcast it & audio was muted.”

While the footage played, the solitary pool camera remained focused on the judge, who was seen flinching and recoiling at the moment Kirk was shot. By contrast, reports from within the courtroom described Robinson as not visibly responding to the footage.

According to Fox News, Kirk, her in-laws Rob and Kathy Kirk, and other teary-eyed family members present were given forewarning about graphic evidence and could be seen leaving the courtroom before the videos were played. Others present in support of the grieving family included Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina.

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Early during the proceeding, Graf addressed Kirk’s attendance and said, “For the record, the court also recognizes the presence of Ms. Erika Kirk,” and Finn had shared the moment Kirk arrived at the courthouse while additional footage marked the arrival of Charlie Kirk’s parents.

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During the hearing, the state called as witnesses Officer Christopher Bagley, who was working at Utah Valley University on the day of the assassination, and Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull, whose testimony included brief descriptions of the videos that were played, including the gunshot that was reflected on the autopsy report that detailed Kirk’s death as homicide by a gunshot wound to the neck.

Deliberations over the admission of evidence included a challenge to photos such as a screwdriver, as it contained an evidence tag, leading the defense to unsuccessfully argue that it did not represent the crime scene as it was found there. Bagley was also questioned about the discovery of a handgun holster and its whereabouts, for which he could not account, when the video of his body-worn camera stopped, and the identity of the officer who was seen with him in that video prior to his testimony said that the battery must have run out.

As for Hull, he is expected to provide further testimony as the hearing continues Tuesday, with the prosecution planning to reintroduce a video as evidence without alterations made by unknown parties that included added circles and zoom-ins to highlight certain areas.

Kevin Haggerty
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