Tensions built in the courtroom Tuesday as attorneys sparred over DNA in Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing.
Erika Kirk at one point shook her head as she listened to the defense question Amanda Bakker, an FBI analyst who testified that Robinson’s DNA was found on a towel that was wrapped around a rifle found near Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was shot.
Erika Kirk leaned in as testimony revealed that Robinson’s former roommate and lover, Lance Twiggs, also had DNA on the towel.
Charlie Kirk’s mother wiped her eyes with a tissue after Bakker was allowed to step down following a combative line of questioning from defense attorney Michael Burt, who tried to discredit the FBI analyst.
Tyler Robinson's parents were seen leaving the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, after the second day of testimony in his preliminary hearing.
The day included never-before-seen surveillance video allegedly showing Robinson's movements at Utah Valley University the day Charlie Kirk was killed, as well as an FBI agent testifying that Robinson's DNA was found on items recovered near the crime scene.
Charlie Kirk's family was seen leaving court after Judge Tony Graf adjurned day 2 of the preliminary hearing.
Graf said the hearing will resume Wednesday at 1 p.m. local time.
{{#rendered}}Tyler Robinson's DNA was found on two items recovered near Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, according to FBI Analyst Amanda Bakker.
Bakker, who was under oath, said Robinson's DNA was found on a towel that was wrapped around a rifle recovered from a wooded area near campus.
She also said Robinson's DNA was found on a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop of the Utah Valley University's Losee Center for Student Success, where he allegedly fired the fatal shot.
DNA of Robinson's former roommate and lover Lance Twiggs was also found on both items, but Bakker said his sample was used as an elimination sample. Twiggs isn't accused or charged of any crime.
Tyler Robinson defense attorney Michael Burt tried to cast doubt over a DNA report that links his client to evidence from the crime scene.
In his questioning of FBI forensic examiner Amanda Bakker, Burt pressed her on the origin of the towel from which DNA evidence was obtained, highlighting that Robinson's roommate, Twiggs, was used as an "elimination sample" in the analysis.
"Did any investigator ever tell you that the towel did not come from Mr. Robinson's home, but was found in a bush out at the university?" Burt asked. "So you knew that that towel was not found in a place where you would expect Mr. Twiggs' DNA to be present?"
DNA belonging to Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former roommate and lover, was found on a towel and screwdriver handle.
Donald Trump Jr's wife, Bettina Anderson, wrote in an Instagram post that they are "honored" to be in court with Charlie Kirk's family, including his widow Erika, for Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing.
Trump Jr. and Anderson were inside the Provo, Utah, courtroom on Monday and Tuesday.
"Don and I were honored to be in court alongside Erika and Charlie's family these past 2 days," Anderson wrote on Instagram. "There are no words that can fully capture the weight of this moment but standing with them was a powerful reminder of the love, strength, and faith that continue to surround Charlie's family. Erika has carried herself with extraordinary grace and courage, and we are in awe of her strength."
"As this judicial process moves forward we have deep respect for the seriousness of the court, the evidence being presented, and the pursuit of truth, accountability, and justice. Over these past 2 days, we have heard and seen a significant amount of evidence, including extensive video footage, much of which has or will become public and will answer many of the questions that have been irresponsibly filled with speculation and false narratives," she continued.
{{#rendered}}Before State Bureau of Investigation Agent Jennifer Faumuina took the stand, Tyler Robinson's lawyers objected to prosecutors introducing a statement from TPUSA board member David Engelhardt regarding a victim-targeting enhancement penalty.
Judge Graf ruled it will be “provisionally admitted into evidence."
Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, was seen holding a tissue to her face during Tuesday's preliminary hearing.
Erika was seen holding the tissue to her face as prosecutors showed surveillance video that purports to track Tyler Robinson's movements through the University of Utah campus.
The Kirk family left the courtroom for about 10 minutes during courtroom discussion of the shooting and then returned.
{{#rendered}}State investigator David Hull said the identity of person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk wasn't known when Tyler Robinson turned himself in.
He said a person of interest was identified, but authorities didn't know who the shooter was.
"We had identified a person of interest, but we did not specifically know who the shooter was at that time," Hull said.
{{#rendered}}Prosecutors on Tuesday showed never-before-seen security video of Tyler Robinson on the Utah Valley University campus on Sept. 10, the day he's accused of shooting and killing Charlie Kirk.
CCTV footage from the Utah Valley University campus captured Tyler Robinson's movements from the moment he arrived on campus through his alleged shooting of Kirk, and continued tracking him afterward.
The video released by prosecutors allegedly shows Robinson on the top of the Losee Center for Student Success, where he's accused of assassinating Kirk.
Utah Valley University CCTV also captured the car being driven by Robinson leaving campus after the shooting.
The families of Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson arrived to court ahead of day 2 of the preliminary hearing.
Retired FBI Supervisory Agent James Gagliano told Fox News that prosecutors may introduce new evidence regarding the alleged murder weapon and notes between Robinson and his ex-roommate and lover Lance Twiggs.
Tyler Robinson's defense attorneys arrived at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, ahead of Tuesday's session of the preliminary hearing in his alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk.
State investigator David Hull will be back on the stand as prosecutors will try to reintroduce CCTV footage from Utah Valley University.
{{#rendered}}PROVO, Utah — The family of Charlie Kirk came face to face with his accused assassin for the first time in a Utah courtroom Monday — the first day of what is expected to be a weeklong preliminary hearing.
Tyler Robinson, 23, was already in the room before members of the media were allowed in at around 8:55 a.m. He was wearing a gray suit, pink shirt and black tie, with his wrists and ankles cuffed. Later in the hearing, when videos of Kirk's shooting death were played for the sides and the judge, he showed no visible response when the sound of the fatal gunshot rang out.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull was on the stand to introduce several videos, including images of Kirk’s death that were not shown publicly in court but were shown to the judge and attorneys for both sides. Two of them were described as showing the moment a sniper’s bullet struck Kirk in the neck, and they included audio that reporters could hear.
While Judge Tony Graf Jr. flinched and leaned away from the screen when the shot rang out in one of the videos, Robinson remained still during both.
Kirk’s family had already left the courtroom before they were played. They were expected to receive warnings before graphic evidence would be introduced and left twice ahead of mentions of the assassination itself.
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