Tyler Robinson appeared for a hearing online in a Utah court Monday as the judge fixed the next hearing date on October 30 in an open-to-the-public hearing. The Utah County Commission appointed Kathryn Nester, a former federal public defender with more than 30 years of experience, as Robinson’s defender. Robindon was charged with aggravated murder, and the prosecutors are in the process of seeking the death penalty. The 22-year-old faces 7 charges for the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University, though he could face additional charges on the federal level. Apart from aggravated murder, Robinson is charged with two counts of obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. The prosecution said they would not make any argument Monday, but they informed the court that there are many witnesses in the Charlie Kirk case who are yet to be identified. And there is voluminous evidence in the case.The defense agreed stating that it was “fairly obvious we don’t have everyone identified yet.” The judge agreed, stating that both sides will have to inform witnesses of the order and that they must abide by it once they become known.The Utah court system gives people accused of crimes an option to waive their legal right to a preliminary hearing and instead schedule an arraignment where they can enter a plea.“We recognize that we are here today for a waiver hearing. It is not our intent to waive a preliminary hearing in this matter,” Nester said as discovery has not yet begun. They asked for a check-in date for 30 to 60 days from now to give them time to prepare their case.
