Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial: Defense Expert Claims that ‘Sensational Media Coverage’ Has Already Convicted Tyler Robinson, Pushes to Ban Cameras in Courtroom (VIDEO)
Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man charged with the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, called an expert witness on Friday to argue that widespread pretrial publicity has prejudiced potential jurors and that live courtroom cameras should be banned to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
The hearing before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf centered on a motion by Robinson’s legal team to ban cameras, still photographers, and microphones from future proceedings.
Kirk was fatally shot while he was speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem in September.
Defense witness Bryan Edelman, a trial consultant and co-founder of Trial Innovations who previously worked on the Bryan Kohberger case in Idaho, presented results from a poll of 200 jury-eligible residents in Utah County.
According to Edelman, 99% of those polled were aware of the case, 64% already believed Robinson is guilty based on media reports, more than 50% said Robinson would have a difficult time convincing them of his innocence, 35% believed he should receive the death penalty, and 65% held a somewhat or very negative opinion of him.
WATCH:
Defense media “expert” claims survey polling Utah county residents regarding Charlie Kirk assassination shows defendant Tyler Robinson would not have a fair trial, citing media coverage:
99% of respondents aware of assassination.
64% believe Robinson is guilty of murder.
7% of… pic.twitter.com/OwSX9HbqP6
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 17, 2026
Edelman told the court that the most prejudicial coverage has been “emotional pretrial publicity” focused on the defendant’s character, including sensationalized reports, body-language analyses speculating that Robinson lacks emotion or empathy, and repeated airings of an initial press conference.
The Post Millennial reports:
In regards to news coverage that was played for the court, he said that outlets were “confusing viewers with what happened in hearings” in mixing statements from hearings and court documents, and that a focus on a protective order that was filed on behalf of Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, “goes to future dangerousness of impressions of the defendant earlier…negative character is prejudicial.”
Speaking on news coverage that features body language experts or other similar officials, Edelman said, “now we’re completely speculating with sensational conjecture, because he didn’t blink properly, and his eyebrows didn’t go up enough, or whatever it is. And now he’s creating this impression that this person has no emotion or empathy, like he might fit the, I think later it becomes a sociopath.”
“It’s all speculation and sensationalism.”
Edelman also cited statements from high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, as “strong, prejudicial, [and] inflammatory.”
WATCH:
Defense media “expert” in Tyler Robinson case claims “A lot of the prejudicial content that has come out so far” is from the initial press conference: the indictment, arrest affidavit, texts,” says Trump made “strong prejudicial inflammatory statements.” pic.twitter.com/fffK0TSLFf
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 17, 2026
During cross-examination, Edelman acknowledged he had not examined negative publicity about Kirk or his widow, Erika Kirk, nor any positive coverage of Robinson.
The Post Millennial reports:
The prosecutor noted that the study asked respondents what three words best describe Charlie Kirk, to which he got responses that include “racist,” inflammatory, “misogynist,” “*sshole,” and “harmful,” among other words. The same question was asked of Robinson, responses for which include “scapegoat,” “confused,” “lost,” and other words.
Robinson’s attorneys have argued that graphic videos of the shooting, media speculation, and public comments, including from Erika Kirk during a December CBS town hall, have created an environment where a fair trial is impossible. They claim live broadcasts feed “sensational, misleading media coverage that undermines the defendant’s fair trial rights.”
Prosecutors, a coalition of media organizations including the Associated Press, and Erika Kirk have opposed the defense motion, arguing that greater transparency, including allowing cameras, is the best safeguard against misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the high-profile case.
Judge Graf has not yet ruled on the camera ban and is expected to issue a decision in the coming weeks.
A trial date has not been set, and Robinson has not entered a plea.
If convicted, Robinson will be eligible for the death penalty.
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