Defense in Charlie Kirk case argues shooter should not face death penalty

Aug 13 - The Utah man on trial for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk should not face the death penalty because he hit his \"intended target\" and did not endanger anyone else, defense lawyers said this week.

Utah prosecutors say their case for capital punishment is straightforward. Tyler Robinson’s lawyers say the state has no case at all.

Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter should not get death penalty, hit ‘intended target’  Chicago Tribune

Tyler Robinson, 23, is awaiting trial after he allegedly shot the 31-year-old dead on September 10, 2025, during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.

The defense lawyers also disputed prosecution’s claims that Robinson targeted Kirk over his political views

The man charged with killing Charlie Kirk shouldn’t get the death penalty because the shooter “hit the intended target” and no one else was endangered when the conservative activist was shot from a rooftop as he addressed a crowd of thousands at an event in Utah last year, his lawyers said.

Whether the shooting endangered the crowd is a key issue: Prosecutors cited the risk that other people could have been harmed as an aggravating factor under state law that makes Kirk's killing a capital crime.

Lawyers for the man accused of killing political commentator Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University last year are now arguing the alleged shooter did not put any of the thousands of attendees in danger — a point they say prevents him from being eligible for the death penalty. In Tuesday court filings,…

Whether Robinson put the crowd of spectators at the Turning Point USA event remains a key element needed to charge him with aggravated murder.

Defense lawyers for Tyler Robinson argue their client should not be eligible for the death penalty in Utah because conservative activist Charlie Kirk was his only “intended target” in the fatal shooting last year. Robinson’s attorneys made the argument in court documents filed late Tuesday as they have tried to block t

Lawyers for the man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk say he shouldn’t be eligible for the death penalty because the shooter hit the “intended target” during an event attended by thousands of people last year in Utah

Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter hit the ‘intended target,’ did not endanger others  AP News

Tyler Robinson's defense argues prosecutors failed to prove the sole aggravating factor that could make Charlie Kirk's killing a death penalty case.