The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah campus in September has made his first in-person court appearance, as a judge deliberated on the extent of media access to the high-profile case.
Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, 22, and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office had asked the judge to ban cameras in court out of concern that news coverage could prejudice a fair trial.
Kirk’s widow and a coalition of national and local news organisations pushed for transparency and a judge agreed on Thursday to allow cameras in court.
The defendant faces several charges, including aggravated murder, and could face the death penalty if convicted. He has not yet entered a plea.
He turned himself in to authorities after an extensive manhunt following Kirk’s shooting at an open-air event at Utah Valley University.
The defendant confessed the crime to his father, who recognised him from images released by authorities and who eventually persuaded him to surrender, say officials.
Reuters
On Thursday, the accused arrived in court with restraints on his wrists and ankles.
He wore a shirt, tie and trousers and smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the court, according to the BBC’s US news partner CBS. His mother, father and brother were in court with him.
A coalition of national and local news organisations wants to preserve media access to the case, arguing for transparency and public accessibility.
They are pushing for the release of a recording and transcript from an October hearing in the case.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has been combatting conspiracy theories about her husband’s death, has also asked for transparency in the case. On Fox News last month she said “we deserve to have cameras in there”.
Part of the hearing on Thursday was to review an audio recording and transcript from an October hearing that was closed to the public. The judge is still examining this issue.
EPA
Another section of the hearing was streamed online for public viewing.
“I need to hear what should or should not be sealed or protected and it would not benefit to have everyone listen to what should be sealed,” Judge Tony Graf said.
He initially planned to issue rulings on Thursday, but postponed to 29 December because he would rather “do it right and take more time, than be rash and miss the mark”.
“I need to be narrow in my approach, it is an important issue. I plan to do that,” Judge Graf said.
However, he did decide on a publicity order in the case, prohibiting attorneys on both sides from making extrajudicial statements.
In October, the judge allowed the defendant to wear civilian clothes during pre-trial hearings to avoid prejudicing potential jurors, but he required him to wear restraints during hearings.
Photo or video of him in restraints is not allowed.
The defendant is due to make his next in-person appearance during a hearing on 16 January.
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