The suspect in the killing of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk appeared before a US court on Monday, where his lawyers requested more time to handle the massive amount of evidence in the case.
Kirk was shot and killed at a university in Utah this month, sparking a wave of grief among conservatives and threats from President Donald Trump to launch a campaign against the “radical left.”
Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested the day after he committed the crime on September 10 and faces the death penalty if convicted of intentional murder.
Robinson appeared via video at Monday’s hearing from the Utah prison where he is being held.
The court-appointed defense attorney told the court she needs more time to review the “enormous quantity” of evidence gathered by the investigation.
Judge Tony Graf scheduled the next hearing for October 30, where Robinson is expected to appear in person.
Authorities say Robinson shot Kirk from the roof of a building on the Utah Valley University campus because of his views.
They said he exchanged text messages with his roommate, whom they described as “a biological man who was undergoing gender transition.” In one part of the conversation, the unnamed roommate asked Robinson why he killed Kirk.
Robinson replied, “I was tired of the hatred he carried. Some hatred cannot be overcome through negotiation.”
Kirk, a father of two, used his following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to build support for conservative views, including strong criticisms of the transgender rights movement.
Following the murder, several people lost their jobs after conservatives criticized what they had posted online or said publicly about Kirk.
