A Confession in St. George
Tyler Robinson, 23, faces a preliminary hearing in Utah to determine if there is probable cause to proceed to trial for the murder of Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors have built their case on a series of text messages and witness testimony, alleging that Robinson admitted to the killing shortly after the September 2025 shooting.
The Roommate’s Account
On the fourth day of the hearing, the state introduced video testimony from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner. Twiggs told investigators he encountered Robinson pacing their St. George apartment on September 11, 2025—one day after Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.
Twiggs testified that when he questioned Robinson about a note left the previous day in which Robinson allegedly claimed responsibility for the death, Robinson confirmed the note was accurate. The prosecution also shared screenshots of text messages between the two. In one exchange, Robinson allegedly wrote, “I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.” When Twiggs asked, “You werent the one who did it right????”, Robinson replied, “I am, I’m sorry.”
Forensics and the Mauser 98
Sergeant Jennifer Faumuina of the Utah Department of Public Safety testified regarding the weapon recovered by law enforcement. The firearm, a Mauser 98 rifle, was located in a wooded area on the Utah Valley University campus.
Faumuina read from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report stating it was “highly likely” that DNA found on multiple components of the rifle belonged to Robinson. Defense attorney Richard Novak has contested the reliability of this evidence. Alongside the rifle, officials discovered three unfired bullets and a casing featuring engraved phrases, including “hey fascist, catch” and “oh bella ciao, ciao, ciao.”
Legal Battles Over Admissibility
The admissibility of the video evidence involving Twiggs sparked intense debate. Richard Novak argued that airing the testimony could unfairly bias potential jurors by framing Twiggs’s statements as a definitive confession before Robinson has entered a formal plea.
Erika Kirk, the widow of the deceased, has attended the proceedings with her family. She has advocated for the full display of exhibits in court, citing a desire to counter the spread of conspiracy theories regarding her husband’s death. Judge Tony Graf ultimately permitted the use of the partially redacted interview and messages, ruling that the decision balances the rights of the defendant with the interests of the victims. The hearing continues as the court determines if the evidence is sufficient to move the case toward a full trial.
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