The alleged assassin of conservative leader Charlie Kirk told his attorney he thinks about the shooting “every day,” according to a lip-reading analysis of the suspect’s first public court appearance.
Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared calm and even laughed with his lawyer during Thursday's hearing in Provo, Utah, where a judge weighed how much media access to allow in the high-profile case.
A lip-reading firm interpreted Robinson's off-microphone remarks to his attorney as: "I think about the shooting daily ... Every morning ... all the time," along with a reference to Kirk's widow, Erika, the New York Post reported.
Because the exchange was not captured on a courtroom microphone, the alleged comments cannot be independently verified. They are based on the Post's reported lip-reading analysis.
Robinson is accused in the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder and several additional counts, and they have indicated they plan to seek the death penalty.
Thursday's hearing centered less on the underlying allegations and more on courtroom transparency.
Robinson's attorneys argued that expansive media coverage, especially images of restraints, could poison a future jury pool and undermine his presumption of innocence, Politico reported.
Judge Tony Graf deferred rulings on key questions, including whether to broaden or restrict press access and whether to release portions of a prior closed proceeding.
A follow-up hearing was set for Dec. 29.
Media organizations have pushed back, arguing that open courts protect due process by allowing the public to see that justice is being administered fairly.
At the same time, the judge has already tried to strike a balance by allowing Robinson to wear street clothes while limiting the publication of images showing shackles.
The case has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over political violence and whether institutions are taking threats against conservatives seriously enough.
Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA, built a large following by challenging progressive orthodoxy on campuses.
The courtroom fight over cameras is secondary to a full, transparent prosecution that delivers justice for Kirk's family and the thousands who witnessed the chaos unfold.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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