Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk Killer, Grinning At First Court Appearance, Mentions Erika in Chat With Lawyer

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, made his first in-person court appearance this week. The hearing, held at the Provo Courthouse in Utah, immediately drew a flood of public and media commentaries due to the suspect's surprising behaviour and composure.

The hearing offered a glimpse into Robinson's current mindset and demeanour, setting an immediately chilling tone for the court proceedings. The suspect was captured on camera repeatedly smiling, grinning, and smirking while interacting with his defence lawyers.

Deciphering Tyler Robinson's Courtroom Actions And Lip Reader's Testimony

Body language experts were quick to interpret Robinson's actions, suggesting they demonstrated a shocking lack of concern or appropriate gravity regarding the serious murder charges and the capital case he is currently facing. Robinson, if found guilty, could face the death penalty.

Observers and commentators said that Robinson's pleasant, almost happy face was an unsettling display of apparent nonchalance or a lack of remorse regarding the grave act he was accused of committing. According to the New York Post, a lip reader also said that the alleged Charlie Kirk killer said that he could not stop thinking about what he did.

The expert, from Lip Reader Limited, concluded that the accused said, 'I think about the shooting daily.' His mic was off, but the expert caught on with what he was saying. 'Every morning ... all the time,' he continued. At one point, he also mentioned Charlie's widow, Erika Kirk, saying, 'So, he had a wife...'

Experts suggested that mentioning Erika in his court appearance was another indication that the alleged murderer was still consumed by the events of the shooting. But while the exact nature of his exchange with his lawyers was not fully deciphered, they said that his overall actions and his revelations that he thinks about the shooting every day are disturbing indicators of his ongoing mental state and preoccupation with the crime.

Charlie Kirk's Case Was A Hate Crime?

Charlie Kirk was shot on 10 September at Utah Valley University, where he was attending an event through Turning Point USA, an organisation he founded. Robinson confessed to the killing, and this has bolstered the prosecution's argument that the assassination was premeditated and politically motivated.

As proof, court documents revealed text messages sent by Robinson to his romantic partner who is said to be born male but is undergoing gender transition. The message sent shortly after the shooting stated: 'I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.'

This text, along with an incriminating note that Robinson left beforehand, stating his intention to take the opportunity to kill Kirk, provides foundational support for the charge that the act was a planned assassination. Furthermore, the alleged political angle behind the violence was further corroborated by the accused's mother, who told investigators that her son had become increasingly radicalised and politically active over the last year.

She further shared that his advocacy is centred in particular on the rights of homosexual and transgender people, which has led the prosecution to believe the murder was also an act of political extremism.

Robinson is scheduled to return to court in January, with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for May of 2026.