Tyler Robinson, the man accused of ⁠fatally shooting prominent US conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus last year, pleaded not guilty to a murder charge that a judge ruled could carry the death penalty.

Mr Robinson’s plea and the ruling by Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf came after prosecutors laid out what they called ‘overwhelming evidence’ that a capital trial of Mr Robinson, 23, was warranted for the murder of Mr Kirk.

Defence lawyers had argued the shooting did not meet the standard for a death penalty charge.

Utah County attorneys accused the former apprentice electrician of firing the single shot that killed Mr Kirk, 31, as he held one of his trademark campus debates that helped propel him to national prominence.

Judge Graf ruled that Mr Robinson should face trial on all seven charges against him, among them aggravated murder for endangering the lives of others at the event.

That count carries the death ‌penalty in Utah.

Utah County prosecutor Ryan McBride presented video of what he said was Mr Robinson taking up a sniper position at Utah Valley University in Orem on 10 September 2025, before he shot Mr Kirk.

He displayed pictures that he said showed Mr Robinson created a “great risk of death” to others, with Mr Kirk’s security detail only feet away from Mr Kirk when he was shot.

Mr McBride said the four rounds in ‌Mr Robinson’s rifle demonstrated that the shooter was prepared to fire more rounds if the first missed, further endangering others.

“He lay down in a prone position, and he would have seen this mass of people, of 3,000-plus people there for the event, took ⁠aim, put his crosshairs on Charlie Kirk and fired,” Mr McBride told the court.

DNA evidence disputed

Defence lawyer Staci Visser said the shooting endangered no one but Mr Kirk, arguing ‌that the crime did not meet the standard of aggravated murder.

Ms Visser said the assailant did not engage with anyone else ⁠or reload the weapon, ‌but simply shot the gun and ran away.

“There is one act. There is one shot. There is one bullet. There is one victim,” Ms Visser told the court.

“There was no evidence that would suggest that anyone else was threatened,” she added.

During the hearing, the prosecutor cited test results that showed Mr Robinson’s DNA was on the alleged murder weapon.

Defence lawyer Michael Burt questioned the reliability of that testing.

Mr McBride alleged that Mr ⁠Robinson targeted Mr Kirk for his political views on gay marriage and transgender rights.

He cited a text message from Mr Robinson in which he allegedly told his then partner that he shot Mr Kirk because “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Defence attorney Richard Novak said it was unclear what Mr Robinson referred to by “hate” and the wording did not imply he opposed Mr Kirk’s political views.

Among those in the courtroom were Mr Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn, and his wife, Erika, who has taken leadership of the late activist’s conservative youth organisation.

A co-founder of conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, Mr Kirk was credited with energising young voters behind US President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.

At a memorial following Mr Kirk’s shooting, Erika Kirk said she forgave the alleged shooter. She has not commented on ‌the death penalty charge.