Five days of testimony in the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson offered the clearest picture yet of the prosecution's case in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder and six other offenses in connection with the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem. Prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political beliefs and are seeking the death penalty. He has not entered a plea.
Judge Tony Graf has not yet decided whether there's enough evidence to send the case to trial. That decision will come after both sides return to court in September.
Here are five of the biggest developments from this week's hearings.
1. Prosecutors say Robinson confessed to his roommate
Some of the most closely watched testimony centered on Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former roommate and romantic partner.
Jurors watched portions of a recorded police interview in which Twiggs said Robinson came home after the shooting, was "crying a little bit" and told him that "he wishes he hadn't done it."
Prosecutors also introduced text messages they say show Robinson admitting to the killing. In one exchange, Robinson allegedly told Twiggs to look under his keyboard. Later, after Twiggs asked, "you werent the one who did it right????" Robinson allegedly replied, "I am, I'm sorry."
Twiggs has been granted immunity from prosecution and is expected to be a key witness if the case goes to trial.
2. The defense pushed back on the state's evidence
Robinson's attorneys spent much of the week trying to poke holes in the prosecution's case.
They argued that playing portions of Twiggs' interview publicly could unfairly influence future jurors.
"We are very concerned that the publication of what the state will call confessions at trial violates Mr. Robinson's due process rights," defense attorney Richard Novak told the judge.
The defense also questioned DNA evidence, the handling of the crime scene and ballistics testing. One point of focus was a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body that experts could not conclusively match to the rifle prosecutors say Robinson used.
"Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate," testified ATF examiner Samantha Karner.
3. Charlie Kirk's family sat through emotional testimony
Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, and his mother attended the hearings, marking the first time they'd been in the same courtroom as Robinson since his arrest.
The family watched surveillance footage that prosecutors say tracked Robinson's movements around campus before the shooting. According to The Associated Press, Erika Kirk buried her head in her mother-in-law's arms as video showed the alleged shooting position.
After the hearings wrapped up Friday, the family released a statement calling the proceedings "an important step forward in the pursuit of justice for Charlie."
"As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day," the statement said.
The family added that they hope the case continues through "a process that is fair, transparent, and grounded in the facts."
Donald Trump Jr. also attended the first day of the hearing.
4. A handwritten note briefly appeared on a livestream
One unexpected moment came after a handwritten note prosecutors say Robinson left for Twiggs was accidentally shown during the court's livestream, despite a judge's order that it not be broadcast.
Part of the note read: "Luna, If you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission and sent an auto-text. I'm likely dead or facing a lengthy prison sentence."
Another line stated: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it."
Defense attorneys argued the mistake could prejudice future jurors and asked the judge to ban courtroom cameras. Instead, Graf ruled that exhibits would no longer be displayed on the livestream for the remainder of the hearing.
5. The case returns to court in September
Judge Graf did not rule Friday on whether Robinson will stand trial.
Instead, both sides will return to court on Sept. 1 after submitting written legal arguments.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who attended Thursday's hearing, said the evidence presented by prosecutors was "damning."
"It contains multiple confessions by the defendant Tyler Robinson acknowledging not only that he killed Charlie Kirk, but acknowledging that he did so having planned it in advance in great detail and acknowledging at one point that he was motivated by hate," Lee said.
"It's difficult to imagine how this results in anything other than a conviction," he added.
