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Prosecutors began presenting the case against Tyler Robinson in the killing of Charlie Kirk as part of a five-day hearing in a Utah courtroom that started on Monday morning.

The prosecution hopes to convince a judge that they have enough evidence for the 23-year-old accused of fatally shooting the far-right commentator last year to face trial and the death penalty.

The proceedings began on Monday and Kirk’s parents and widow arrived separately at the courthouse shortly before the hearing was scheduled to start. It was the first time Kirk’s family was in the courtroom with his accused killer.

Kirk’s family issued a brief statement ahead of the hearing on Monday morning and asked for privacy.

“Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children,” the joint statement from his parents, sister and widow, Erika, said. “We remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness we have received. This outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives.”

Kirk was shot in the neck on 10 September 2025 while delivering remarks at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors have said there is DNA evidence that links Robinson to the weapon believed to be used in the killing and that he allegedly confessed to the assassination in a note he left his roommate and romantic partner.

Robinson, who surrendered to police the day after the shooting, has been charged with aggravated murder. He has not yet entered a plea in the case, but his attorneys have tried to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty.

This week, the state must prove there is “evidence sufficient to support a reasonable belief that an offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it”, the Utah county attorney’s office said in a statement last month. The case can proceed to trial if the prosecution presents sufficient evidence, the office said.

If Robinson is convicted, prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. This week, prosecutors were expected to argue the shooting placed other people at the event in danger, which would amount to an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime eligible for the death penalty.

The hearing kicked off Monday with testimony from a former Utah Valley University police officer.

The Associated Press contributed reporting