A judge in the US state of Utah has ruled that the trial of Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, can proceed, according to US media.
District Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling on Tuesday following a probable cause hearing in which prosecutors argued that sufficient evidence existed for the case to move toward arraignment, NBC News said.
"It is hereby ordered that the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, is bound over for trial," Graf was reported as saying.
Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, welcomed the decision — which came almost a year after his killing — as an "important step."
"Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie's murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father," Erika said in a statement on X.
"We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief."
No ultimate determination
Robinson, 23, is accused of shooting Kirk, 31, with a rifle from a rooftop during a rally at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and an ally of US President Donald Trump, was killed in the shooting, which reverberated across US politics.
Robinson faces an aggravated murder charge, a first-degree felony that could carry the death penalty, as well as additional charges. He has not entered a plea.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride argued that Robinson's political views provided a motive and said firing a rifle into a crowd of about 3,000 people created a significant risk to others.
Defence attorney Richard Novak rejected the motive, saying there was no evidence Robinson had previously discussed Kirk or expressed views about him.
Attorney Staci Visser also argued that an aggravating factor involving risk to others should not apply because the prosecution alleges a single shot and a single victim.
Graf allowed the aggravating factor and found that prosecutors had met the required burden at the preliminary stage. The ruling does not determine Robinson's ultimate guilt or innocence.
The hearing followed an earlier prosecution presentation that included security footage, digital records and forensic evidence related to the alleged killing.
