A letter allegedly written by Tyler Robinson, which appears to confess to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was briefly displayed to the public during a court hearing on July 9, 2026. This occurred despite a judge's order prohibiting the document from being shown before jury selection. Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty if convicted of the murder that took place at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
Judge Tony Graf had ruled that materials characterized as a confession should not be broadcast, but images of the note were visible on the court's livestream before being removed. The note was addressed to Robinson's roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, and included a statement of remorse regarding the opportunity to kill Kirk.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering, among other offenses. He has not yet entered pleas in the case. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani indicated that the incident is unlikely to impact the legal proceedings significantly, as no jury has been selected. Twiggs testified that Robinson later admitted the contents of the note were true and expressed regret over the killing.
Prosecutors presented evidence including surveillance video, DNA evidence, and witness testimony to establish a connection between Robinson and the shooting. The prosecution rested its case after calling four law enforcement witnesses involved in the investigation.