US Court Fixes June 2028 for Trial of Tyler Robinson Accused of Killing Activist Charlie Kirk
The trial of Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of murdering prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the United States, has been scheduled to begin in June 2028.
A Utah District Court judge, Tony Graf, set June 21, 2028, as the date for jury selection during a court hearing on Monday, marking a major development in the high-profile murder case.
Robinson is facing seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder, over the fatal shooting of Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to Reuters, Robinson’s defence team had asked the court to postpone the trial until late 2029, arguing that they needed more time to examine the extensive evidence, challenge prosecutors’ decision to seek the death penalty and prepare for a possible change of trial venue.
Prosecutors, however, had proposed January 2028 as the preferred start date, estimating that the proceedings would last approximately 17 weeks.
The judge eventually settled on June 21, 2028, for jury selection after considering competing requests from the prosecution, defence team and Kirk’s family regarding the timing of the trial.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, had appealed to the court to begin proceedings as early as 2027, arguing that a prolonged legal process would only deepen the emotional suffering of the family.
Her legal representatives also expressed concerns about the financial burden associated with an extended trial, particularly the cost of providing legal representation for Robinson in a capital murder case.
Despite the family’s position, Robinson’s lawyers maintained that the complexity of the case and the substantial volume of evidence required additional preparation time.
Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk from a rooftop while the 31-year-old conservative activist was addressing students and other attendees at a Turning Point USA event on the university campus.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political and social views, particularly his positions on gay marriage and transgender rights.
As part of their case, prosecutors have also pointed to alleged messages exchanged between Robinson and his former roommate following the shooting.
However, Robinson’s defence team has disputed the prosecution’s account of the alleged motive and questioned the reliability of some forensic evidence presented as linking their client to the killing.
If found guilty of aggravated murder, Robinson could face the death penalty.
The judge has reserved 105 court days for the trial, while another hearing is expected to take place in April 2028 to determine whether proceedings can begin as scheduled.
Kirk’s killing, which sent shockwaves across the United States, attracted widespread reactions because of his prominence as a conservative activist, close ally of US President Donald Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA. The incident also reignited national conversations about political violence and the growing tensions surrounding political disagreements in the country.
