A Utah judge has held prosecutors in contempt of court for comments made to media about defendant Tyler Robinson in the Charlie Kirk murder case. Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling on June 26, stating that the comments violated restrictions on public statements regarding the case.
Robinson, 23, faces charges of aggravated murder in the September 10 assassination of Kirk, an ally of former President Donald Trump. Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.
Judge Graf denied a defense request to remove the death penalty as a potential punishment for Robinson, suggesting that the issue could be addressed during the jury selection process to avoid bias among jurors.
Defense attorneys accused Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard of attempting to influence potential jurors through a media tour discussing ballistics evidence. Ballard asserted that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to prove Robinson's guilt, stating that they could demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the murder.
Ballard defended his media statements, claiming he aimed to correct misinformation regarding preliminary ballistics findings. Some reports suggested that the bullet did not match the suspected murder weapon, raising questions about the prosecution's case.
A headline from the United Kingdom-based Daily Mail reported that the bullet that killed Kirk “did NOT match” the rifle believed to have been used.
Judge Graf noted that while Ballard's comments about the bullet were permissible, his assertion of having ample evidence against Robinson could prejudice the case. The judge emphasized that the ruling was not related to the charges against Robinson but was meant to enforce a narrowly tailored publicity order governing attorney conduct.
Evidence presented in the case includes DNA consistent with Robinson's found on the trigger of the rifle, a fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges, and a towel used to wrap the rifle. The Associated Press has sought comments from both prosecutors and Robinson's legal team regarding the ongoing proceedings.
