Charlie Kirk ‘assassin’ Tyler Robinson smirks in court before his sobbing mom kicked from room after desperate request

THE alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk smirked as he chatted with his lawyers during his first-ever in-person court appearance on Thursday. The brazen display came before Tyler Robinson’s mom broke down in sobs after being denied a shocking request by the judge.

Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared before Judge Tony Graf in Provo, Utah, on Thursday as the court wrangled over whether TV crews should keep filming the explosive case.

The accused gunman was led into the room in a blue button-down shirt and tie, after earlier winning permission to ditch a jail jumpsuit and wear civilian clothes.

As lawyers shuffled paperwork, Robinson sat between his attorneys looking calm and relaxed, at one point leaning over to whisper what appeared to be joking comments.

Cameras captured him smiling at the table, fueling a fresh wave of anger from supporters of the slain conservative star. Robinson’s father, mother, and brother all sat behind him in the gallery as the hearing opened under the glare of national attention.

The judge ordered everyone out, despite Robinson’s lawyer pleading for his family to be allowed to stay during the secret portion of the hearing. After she was told to leave the room, Robinson’s mom could be seen sobbing in the hallway, according to NewsNation’s Brian Entin.

CAMERA QUESTION
Graf is taking Robinson’s presumption of innocence seriously, noting in court that the case has attracted “extraordinary” public attention.

He barred outlets from filming or photographing Robinson’s shackles after his attorneys argued that widely circulated images of him restrained or in jail clothing could unfairly influence future jurors.

Graf insisted Robinson remain shackled for safety and warned the media not to show the restraints in any footage beamed to the public.

Robinson’s attorneys have also complained that media live-streaming the hearings violated Graf’s order by showing the accused’s shackles and catching defense lawyers laughing and chatting on the feed.

In response, the judge ordered cameras moved to the back of the courtroom as part of tighter controls on how the high-profile hearing is filmed.

Media access in Utah courtrooms is already tightly managed, with judges often allowing just one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share those images with other outlets, while additional reporters sit in to listen and take notes alongside members of the public.

Robinson’s team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have backed the push to limit cameras, arguing that saturation coverage could poison the jury pool and raise security concerns.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, has taken the opposite stance, insisting the country should be able to see the man accused of murdering her husband in open court.

In recent filings, attorney Judd argued that an open courtroom “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” and builds public confidence in the justice system.

Robinson’s legal team counters that pretrial publicity has reached all the way to the White House, pointing out that Donald Trump said soon after the arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and added, “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

Defense attorney Kathy Nester has also raised alarms about digitally altered images of Robinson’s early court appearance circulating online, including fake versions showing him crying or having an outburst in court — scenes that never actually happened.

HORROR CASE
Prosecutors say Robinson gunned down the 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder on September 10 as Kirk spoke at Utah Valley University in front of thousands of students and fans.

The conservative activist and father of two was hit once in the neck and bled out as the stunned crowd watched, with shocking clips from multiple angles bouncing around social media within hours.

Robinson is now charged with aggravated murder, felony discharged of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

He was arrested 33 hours after the shooting when his father recognized images of the suspect circulating online and turned him in to authorities.

Investigators say Robinson admitted to the killing in text messages with his trans live-in lover and allegedly described where he stashed the bolt-action rifle used in the attack.

He has not yet entered a plea and faces the possibility of death by firing squad if convicted under Utah law. His last appearance in October was held over the phone, when he successfully fought for the right to wear regular clothes in court.