A letter allegedly written by Tyler Robinson appearing to show a confession to murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk was briefly shown to the public Thursday during a court hearing, despite a judge’s prior order barring the document from being displayed before jury selection.
The disclosure occurred during a weeklong evidentiary hearing for Robinson, 23, who faces the death penalty if convicted of assassinating the Turning Point USA founder before a crowd at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
Utah Judge Tony Graf had ruled that materials prosecutors characterize as a confession should not be broadcast. But two images of the note — one showing the partially burned original and another depicting an intact photograph stored on Robinson’s roommate’s phone — were briefly visible on the court’s livestream before Graf noticed the mistake and had them removed.
According to the image that was briefly flashed on the screen, the note was addressed to Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, whom Robinson referred to by the chosen name “Luna.”
“If you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry,” the letter says. “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other felony offenses stemming from the September 2025 shooting. He has not yet entered pleas in the case.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told the Washington Examiner the incident is unlikely to have any legal impact because no jury has been selected and preliminary hearings routinely include evidence that may never be presented at trial.
“None of this is being shown to a jury. We don’t even have a jury yet,” Rahmani said, adding that the judge’s probable cause determination will not hinge on whether the images were briefly displayed.
He said the issue could, however, become part of jury selection in the high-profile case, and prospective jurors could be asked whether they watched the hearing or were exposed to the evidence beforehand.
Twiggs testified Thursday that Robinson later admitted the contents of the note were true, expressed regret over the killing, and said he intended to surrender to authorities.
Utah prosecutors also played portions of Twiggs’s police interview and introduced text messages allegedly exchanged between the pair after Kirk was killed.
EX-LOVER DESCRIBES TYLER ROBINSON’S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S KILLING IN TAPED TESTIMONY
State prosecutors spent the week presenting evidence they say ties Robinson to the fatal shooting, including surveillance video, DNA evidence, ballistics findings, and witness testimony, in an effort to persuade a judge there is sufficient evidence to send the case to trial.
The prosecution rested its case Thursday afternoon after calling four law enforcement witnesses who participated in the investigation.