The murder case against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of the high-profile assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, has encountered a potential hurdle. Skye Lazaro, a seasoned attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, has raised concerns about a flaw in the prosecution's evidence that could significantly influence the course of the trial.
On the fateful day of September 10, as Kirk addressed students at Utah Valley University, Robinson allegedly delivered the fatal shot. Prosecutors maintain that Robinson meticulously orchestrated the murder, but Lazaro's recent comments to Fox News suggest that the solidity of the state's case is in question: “There’s just so much we don’t know yet as this case develops.”
As the discovery phase commenced with a five-day deadline for the prosecution to share initial evidence, Robinson's defense successfully postponed his waiver hearing, thereby securing additional time to scrutinize the state’s materials. This development comes in the wake of charging documents that surfaced containing incriminating text messages.
According to allegations, Robinson explicitly detailed the killing in messages to his transgender romantic partner and acknowledged the act in a group chat with friends. Arrested 33 hours post-assassination, Robinson reportedly confessed to his father and later surrendered to authorities after a youth pastor's persuasion.
Notably, Robinson was seen revisiting the crime scene prior to his surrender, where he encountered a police officer near the location where the rifle was eventually found. The officer, who had been dealing with the aftermath of thousands fleeing the campus, did not initially deem Robinson's presence as suspect. However, this interaction's timing, and more critically, whether the officer's bodycam was operational, has been flagged by Lazaro as a potentially pivotal aspect of the case.
Another contentious issue is the subpoena of text messages. Lazaro explained the significance of the geographical origin of these messages, which could either support the prosecution's timeline or provide the defense with a line of attack if forensic experts manage to poke holes in it.
The cooperation of Robinson’s roommate and partner, Lance Twiggs, with the prosecution adds another layer to the narrative. Lazaro suggested that the defense might seek to question Twiggs' credibility.
While conspiracy theories about fabricated messages have surfaced, Lazaro has advised caution, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence before pursuing such defense strategies.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, an offense that could result in the death penalty. He has yet to enter a plea, and although his next court appearance is set for October 30 in Provo, further delays are anticipated.
