PROVO, Utah (AP) — The preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of shooting and killing Charlie Kirk, will be open to media coverage, Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled on Monday.
Robinson’s defense attorneys sought to restrict the preliminary hearing, arguing that evidence presented during the hearing could taint the potential jury pool before a possible trial.
In his determination, Judge Graf said the defense team did not sufficiently present that the evidence, if presented in a public proceeding, would create a “realistic likelihood of prejudice to the defendant’s right to a fair trial.”
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“The public and the media enjoy a presumptive right to access court proceedings, including preliminary hearings,” said Judge Graf, adding that a party requesting a hearing be closed must show that keeping a hearing open could raise risk of prejudice.
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In his ruling, Judge Graf said defense attorneys raised generalized concerns about hearsay and expert reports without identifying anything specific that could taint the jury pool. He did keep open the door to restrict the public from seeing certain exhibits through restrictive methods, adding that methods in jury selection should prove sufficient to find a suitable jury should the case head to trial.