Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, Crime, US News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, Crime, US News
Tyler Robinson's lawyers have said that bullet analysis suggests that the one found during Charlie Kirk's autopsy following his assassination might not be connected to the rifle discovered by police.
Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, and 22-year-old Robinson went on to be charged with his death.
Robinson turned himself in to police after a nationwide manhunt for Kirk's killer.
A preliminary hearing is set to take place in May, but Robinson's lawyers have asked for this date to be pushed back as they say that they have a huge amount of documents to review beforehand.
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According to Fox News, his team have received more than 600,000 files from prosecutors to review on March 12. One analyst said that they might need as long as six months to look over the documents.
One key part of the papers that Robinson's lawyers wish to review are apparent findings by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that could 'not conclusively connect a bullet fragment recovered during an autopsy to the rifle found near the scene', POLITICO reports.
The FBI is said to be running additional tests.
The rifle in question, a Mauser model 98, reportedly had Robinson's DNA on it. The weapon belonged to the 22-year-old's grandfather.
The bullet will play a key part in identifying Kirk's killer. Per POLITICO, experts will look for 'microscopic markings that are left on a bullet as it passes through the gun’s barrel'.
The markings are unique to each gun's barrel.
Robinson is yet to enter a plea and his defense said that it may try to use the analysis to clear his name if it's found that the bullet from Kirk's autopsy does not match the rifle linked to him.
Meanwhile the prosecution are hoping to gather enough evidence to have Robinson stand trial. They are seeking the death sentence for the young man.
Robinson's legal team's latest request comes after they tried to have a prosecutor removed from the case, arguing that that there was a conflict of interest because their daughter was at the event at Utah Valley University when Kirk was killed.
Judge Tony Graf denied the motion last month.
"Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety, rising to a constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied," he said in his response.
"In sum, the defendant has not shown that there is a significant risk that Mr. Gray's loyalty to his daughter has or will materially limit representation of the state. Nor has defendant demonstrated that his due process rights are compromised by the continued prosecution of this case by the Utah County Attorney's Office."