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Body language expert reveals gesture Charlie Kirk 'killer' made in court 'that he should not have been doing'
Tyler Robinson, the 22‑year‑old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, appeared in person in a Utah courtroom for the first time this week, drawing sharp reactions to his behavior. Robinson, charged with aggravated murder and other counts in the September shooting, was seen smiling and whispering with his attorneys during the hearing in Provo, Utah. His relaxed demeanor has sparked widespread commentary online and from experts who study human behavior.
Body language specialist Scott Rouse, a trainer of law enforcement and legal professionals, watched footage of Robinson’s court appearance and flagged a specific gesture he believes was inappropriate for the situation. Rouse said that the moment that caught his attention was Robinson smiling while on the stand. “That’s the only thing I looked at and went, he shouldn’t be doing that.”
Expert says smile was out of place
Rouse told viewers of the video analysis that someone facing serious charges typically shows signs of stress or concern. He said that while a neutral expression can be understandable, Robinson’s smile during the court proceeding struck him as unusual. “I don’t know what could be found funny during that situation. It would be a little bit tough for me to think something up, but apparently they’re trying to, you know, alleviate some of the stress for him.”
The body language expert also examined Robinson’s interaction with his legal team, suggesting that their posture and lack of physical closeness indicated the group did not know each other well. “Their body language isn’t the type where you want to get close to them or you’re touching. They’re not leaning the way you should lean. If they knew him really well, I don’t see any any connection with them yet.”
Signs Rouse says were missing from demeanor
In addition to the smile, Rouse noted an absence of other typical stress signals. He pointed out that he did not see what he refers to as the “grief muscle,” a combination of facial muscles that may activate when someone is emotionally troubled. “I don’t see any grief muscle that lets us know he’s really, really worried about anything and no concern.”
Rouse emphasized that it is difficult to draw firm conclusions about Robinson’s character or state of mind based only on this appearance, but the expert made it clear that the smile was the moment that stood out most to him.
Robinson’s first face‑to‑face hearing has drawn intense coverage, with debates over how much media access should be allowed as the case continues. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted in the high‑profile killing of Kirk during a university event in September.