The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be allowed to wear civilian clothing during his upcoming murder trial, a Utah judge ruled Monday.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with fatally shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. During Monday’s virtual hearing, Robinson, who did not appear on camera, confirmed to the court that he could hear the proceedings, responding simply: “Yes, I can.”
District Court Judge Tony F. Grant Jr. granted Robinson’s request to dress in civilian attire, highlight the defendant’s right to the presumption of innocence. “The court recognizes that Mr. Robinson has no criminal history and no record of misconduct while in custody,” the judge said. “However, the charges he faces are extraordinarily serious, carrying potential penalties of life imprisonment or death.”
Although Robinson may wear non-prison clothing, the judge ruled that he must still remain handcuffed and shackled in court for security reasons, BBC News reports.
Tyler Robinson. Credit: Utah State Courts / Getty Images.
Cameras Restricted, Shackles Hidden from View
Judge Grant also barred media outlets from filming Robinson entering or exiting the courtroom and prohibited cameras from showing his restraints.
The decision mirrors rulings in other recent high-profile murder trials, including those involving Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students, and Luigi Mangione, accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
In both cases, defendants were allowed to wear civilian clothes; though Mangione, like Robinson, was required to remain shackled during proceedings.
Defense Argues Jail Clothing Could Bias Jury
Robinson’s attorneys argued that appearing in jail-issued garb could unfairly prejudice jurors, given the intense media attention surrounding the case.
“With each development generating thousands of articles and comments online, the likelihood of potential jurors seeing and drawing conclusions regarding Mr. Robinson’s guilt will only increase,” the defense wrote in a motion, via the Daily Mail.
They added that the 22-year-old has been “polite and cooperative” in custody, with no disciplinary incidents since his arrest.
Kirk pictured at a Utah university rally, minutes before he was fatally shot. Credit: Trent Nelson / The Salt Lake Tribune / Getty Images.
Placed on Suicide Watch
Robinson remains on suicide watch at the Utah County Jail, where he is constantly monitored and required to wear an anti-suicide smock, a thick, tear-resistant garment designed to prevent self-harm.
Such smocks are made from stiff, quilted material that cannot be rolled or tied into a noose, and inmates housed in suicide-watch cells are typically surrounded by padded walls and floors.
Evidence and Motive
Authorities say Robinson turned himself in at a sheriff’s office in southwest Utah, more than three hours from the scene of the shooting. Prosecutors claim they have DNA evidence and incriminating text messages linking Robinson to the killing. According to Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, a note found by investigators suggested that Robinson viewed the attack as an act of political retribution.
“He wrote to his partner that he had the opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices, ‘and I’m going to take it,’” Gray told reporters, as per Global News.
The alleged assassination of Kirk (a prominent Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA) has sent shockwaves through the political landscape.