LOS ANGELES, Dec 12 — The man accused of killing right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance in the United States on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES, Dec 12 — The man accused of killing right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance in the United States on Thursday.
Tyler Robinson remained calm as lawyers addressed procedural matters in what is expected to become one of the most closely watched trials in recent US history.
The 22-year-old, clean-shaven and dressed in a light-coloured shirt and tie, appeared in a Utah courtroom. A judge had previously ruled that he was not required to appear in prison attire.
Kirk was shot dead on a Utah college campus in September, triggering widespread grief among conservatives and prompting calls from President Donald Trump for a crackdown on the “radical left”.
After an extensive manhunt, Robinson was arrested the day after the September 10 killing when his family urged him to surrender, having recognised him in images released by investigators.
Robinson faces the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder.
Authorities allege that Robinson shot Kirk from a rooftop overlooking the Utah Valley University campus, motivated by the activist’s political views.
Prosecutors have cited text message exchanges between Robinson and his roommate, described by authorities as “a biological male who was transitioning genders”.
In one exchange, the roommate asked why Kirk had been killed.
“I had enough of his hatred,” Robinson allegedly replied. “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Kirk, a father of two, built a large following on platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where he promoted conservative viewpoints and was a vocal critic of the transgender rights movement.
Following the killing, several individuals reportedly lost their jobs after facing conservative backlash over online posts or public remarks about Kirk.
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel was also briefly suspended from his ABC show after coming under government pressure for remarks suggesting President Trump’s Maga movement was attempting to capitalise politically on the killing. — AFP
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