Three takeaways from Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing in Kirk murder trial

The weeklong preliminary hearing ahead of Tyler Robinson’s trial for his alleged killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk offered key insights into how the forthcoming trial will likely unfold, as new evidence presented undermined conspiracy theories around Kirk’s 2025 assassination.Beginning Monday and concluding Friday, Utah prosecutors and lawyers for Robinson presented arguments and evidence to Judge Tony Graf about whether there is probable cause to continue to a trial on murder charges. While Graf will not make a decision until September, the five days of hearings offered key insights about the case prosecutors have built.Although state and federal law enforcement officials have been steadfast in their assertion that Robinson killed Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, online conspiracy theories have claimed that other people, including Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, were behind the conservative activist’s death. With the mountain of new evidence presented by the prosecution during this week’s hearings, those theories have effectively crumbled.

One of the conspiracy theories that was hardest hit by evidence shown at the preliminary hearing was the claim, made most notably by podcaster Candace Owens, that Robinson was not even on UVU’s campus on the day Kirk was shot. Throughout the hearings, the prosecution presented surveillance camera videos from the university’s campus appearing to show Robinson making his way to the building where prosecutors say he shot a rifle and killed Kirk. The videos verify that Robinson was on the UVU campus, prosecutors allege.While prosecutors must only demonstrate at the preliminary hearing that there is probable cause, rather than the “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” standard that will be required in the trial for conviction, to show Robinson killed Kirk, prosecutors have said they are confident they have enough evidence to prove Robinson’s connection to the crimes up to both standards.2. Lance Twiggs a key part of prosecution connecting Robinson to Kirk’s killing