PROVO, Utah — Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, asked a judge on Friday to hold prosecutors in contempt, alleging that public statements about ballistic evidence violated restrictions on extrajudicial comments in the case.
Robinson’s defense attorneys argued in court filings that prosecutors conducted what they described as a “media tour” regarding a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body and said the comments improperly influenced public reporting.
Prosecutors rejected the claim and said they had a right to address the case publicly to correct what they described as misinformation from the defense.
Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard said in a court filing that rules allow attorneys to respond to inaccurate statements and “set the record straight.”
Prosecutors also said the ballistic information referenced in media reports was preliminary and inconclusive and did not establish a match to any specific weapon linked to Robinson.
The state argued that statements made by the defense prompted speculation in media coverage about potential exculpatory evidence.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s killing and has not entered a plea. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
A court hearing is scheduled next month to determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Robinson’s attorneys have also asked the court to pause proceedings while they appeal a prior ruling that denied their request to restrict cameras in the courtroom.
Authorities allege Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to an audience of about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem after a single gunshot was fired from a nearby building about 140 yards away.
