Defence lawyers in the Charlie Kirk murder case raise doubts over bullet and DNA evidence, as prosecutors insist they have ample proof to secure a conviction.
LOS ANGELES: Defence lawyers for the man accused of murdering right-wing activist Charlie Kirk have raised significant questions over the evidence, according to newly filed court documents.
They highlight a summary report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives which states examiners could not connect the fatal bullet to the rifle allegedly used by suspect Tyler Robinson.
The defence also queried DNA evidence in the case, noting the ATF and FBI said it could consist of “mixtures of up to ‘five or more’ individuals.”
At a recent Utah court hearing, Robinson’s attorneys said they needed more time to sift through the mountains of evidence generated against their client.
State prosecutor Christopher Ballard told TMZ the apparent evidence gap was not an issue for the case.
“Generally, when a bullet fragment analysis comes back as inconclusive, that means the fragment did not contain enough detail for the examiner to say one way or the other,” he said.
“We have ample evidence to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Tyler Robinson committed this murder and we will present some of that evidence at the upcoming preliminary hearing.”
Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University last September 10, a killing captured on video that roiled US society.
Authorities allege Robinson targeted Kirk from a rooftop because of the influential activist’s political views.
Robinson was arrested the day after the killing when his family, recognising him in released photographs, persuaded him to turn himself in.
He faces the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder.
Kirk used social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to build support for conservative positions, including strong criticism of the transgender rights movement.
In the wake of his murder, a backlash from conservatives led to several people losing their jobs over comments they made online about Kirk.
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel was briefly suspended from his ABC show following government pressure after he said Trump’s MAGA movement was trying to capitalise politically on the killing.
President Donald Trump had threatened a clampdown on the “radical left,” which he and other conservatives blamed for the murder.