{"id":2644962,"date":"2026-08-14T08:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T12:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-death-penalty-tyler-robinsons-attorneys-launch-plan-to-keep-charlie-kirks-accused-murderer-off-death-row-and-it-could-work\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T08:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T12:32:44","slug":"no-death-penalty-tyler-robinsons-attorneys-launch-plan-to-keep-charlie-kirks-accused-murderer-off-death-row-and-it-could-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-death-penalty-tyler-robinsons-attorneys-launch-plan-to-keep-charlie-kirks-accused-murderer-off-death-row-and-it-could-work\/","title":{"rendered":"No Death Penalty: Tyler Robinson&#8217;s Attorneys Launch Plan to Keep Charlie Kirk&#8217;s Accused Murderer Off Death Row &#8211; and It Could Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">44<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fno-death-penalty-tyler-robinsons-attorneys-launch-plan-to-keep-charlie-kirks-accused-murderer-off-death-row-and-it-could-work%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2644962&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a legal case involving Tyler Robinson,accused of shooting Charlie Kirk. Robinson\u2019s defense argues he shouldn&#8217;t face the death penalty because the gunfire only targeted Kirk and did not endanger others, since the bullet traveled above the crowd. Prosecutors maintain that Robinson\u2019s actions pose a great risk of death to others, which under Utah law can qualify for capital punishment. Evidence includes texts and a note suggesting motives related to Kirk\u2019s views on transgender issues, as Robinson was romantically involved with a transgender individual. Experts highlight that Utah law requires specific aggravating factors, such as knowingly creating a high risk of death to others, for the death penalty to be applied. The case is scheduled for further proceedings, with the judge to decide whether Robinson will face trial on capital charges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Attorneys for accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson are attempting to lessen his chances of receiving the death penalty if convicted by claiming that the alleged shooter did not put anyone but Kirk in danger.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/12\/us-news\/accused-charlie-kirk-killer-tyler-robinson-lays-out-wild-reason-why-he-should-avoid-death-penalty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>, Robinson\u2019s attorneys argued Tuesday that since the bullet traveled above the crowd where Kirk was speaking and only \u201chit the intended target,\u201d it does not qualify as an aggravating factor under Utah\u2019s death penalty statute.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only evidence presented supports that the bullet traveled above, not through, the crowd,\u201d defense attorneys said.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that Robinson endangered others when he allegedly shot the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/grand-jury-indicts-2-suspects-assault-turning-point-usa-journalist\/\">Turning Point USA<\/a> founder at an event at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/conservative-journalists-obtain-files-charlie-kirk-murder-utah-valley-university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Valley University<\/a> in September of 2025 was one aggravating factor put forth by the prosecution, which noted in court documents last month that Robinson\u2019s rifle was loaded with four bullets, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/nation\/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-argue-against-death-penalty-said-shooter-hit-intended-target\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This, they said, showed Robinson knew there was the possibility of missing Kirk, \u201cthereby putting others in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Defense attorneys countered that \u201cit is just as likely that the shooter did not believe he would miss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The defense also is seeking to mitigate another potential aggravating factor by saying that Robinson did not target Kirk over his politics.<\/p>\n<p>The prosecution contends that there\u2019s a strong body of evidence, including texts and a note, which indicated that Kirk\u2019s opposition to transgender ideology and homosexuality played a critical role in his motive for shooting Kirk.<\/p>\n<p>Robinson was in a romantic relationship with his roommate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/judge-charlie-kirk-murder-trial-rules-twiggs-damning-testimony-robinson-shown-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lance Twiggs<\/a>, a male who identified as transgender and was considering undergoing medical \u201ctransitioning\u201d around the time of the murder, he told investigators.<\/p>\n<p>The applicable code, <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/utah\/2006\/title76\/76_05028.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Code Ann. \u00a7 76-5-202<\/a>, contains numerous aggravating factors which raise murder to a \u201ccapital felony.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, as University of Utah criminal law professor Paul Cassell noted in a September 2025 article at libertarian outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/reason.com\/volokh\/2025\/09\/16\/why-charlie-kirks-murderer-is-death-eligible-under-utahs-death-penalty-statute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reason<\/a> shortly after Kirk\u2019s assassination, the prosecution almost immediately charged Robinson with having \u201cknowingly created a great risk of death to another individual other than Charlie Kirk and the defendant\u201d as the aggravating circumstance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my view the prosecutors have a strong case that Kirk\u2019s murder fits within that aggravating circumstance, and thus that Robinson (if proven guilty) is eligible for the death penalty,\u201d Cassell wrote, noting that he taught this subject regularly \u2014 and that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/utah-college-keep-flame-charlie-kirk-alive-comeback-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah\u2019s<\/a> criteria for death-penalty eligible murders differ significantly from other states, where simple premeditation can suffice.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>For a murder to be death-eligible in Utah, prosecutors must prove a specific aggravating circumstance\u2014beyond the fact of intentional murder. The facts alleged (if proven) make clear that Robinson acted with premeditation and, indeed, was lying in wait to get the opportunity to shoot Kirk. Under some homicide statutes, that premeditation alone might well be sufficient to seek the death penalty. For example, in California, a murder committed with malice aforethought (i.e., without provocation) becomes death eligible where \u201c[t]he defendant intentionally killed the victim by means of lying in wait.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Under Utah\u2019s murder statute, however, there is no general aggravation for lying in wait or clear premeditation. With some exceptions, Utah\u2019s criminal law statutes generally follow the Model Penal Code (MPC), which was drafted by the American Law Institute in the late 1950s and early 1960s to rationalize criminal statutes. The MPC abandoned the distinction between premeditated and \u201cmerely intentional\u201d murder, providing for only a single degree of murder. When Utah revised its criminal code in around 1973, it followed the MPC\u2019s approach to categorizing homicides. See generally Paul N. Cox, Utah\u2019s New Penal Code, 1973 Utah L. Rev. 718.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Even though the crowd was not in Robinson\u2019s line of sight to Kirk and the bullet traveled over them, Cassell did not believe that a defense argument against this as an aggravating factor would hold water \u2014 although he conceded that such rulings were rare.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt appears that Utah caselaw contains only a handful of decisions interpreting the \u2018great risk of death\u2019 provision,\u201d Cassell wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe gist of these decisions is that the defendant\u2019s murder is aggravated if the defendant place another person within the \u2018zone of danger\u2019 of death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The most recent case in which this was upheld as an aggravating factor was in 2019, when a man shot and killed an employee of a smoke shop while his back was turned to another individual.<\/p>\n<p>However, in that case, the defendant had previously fired a shot at the survivor, which missed, before turning his attention to the victim.<\/p>\n<p>The decision also cited a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-jersey-officials-say-mafia-thriving-tech-savvy-mobsters-take-crime-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Jersey<\/a> case, where the laws are similar, noting that \u201cthe facts must include a knowing or purposeful state of mind vis-a-vis the creation of a great risk of death, that there be a likelihood or high probability of great risk of death created, not just a mere possibility\u2026 and that there be at least another person within the \u2018zone of danger\u2019 created by defendant\u2019s conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While other aggravating factors could make Robinson eligible for the death penalty, the prosecution is leaning heavily on the language that Robinson \u201cknowingly created a great risk of death to a person other than the victim and the actor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The prosecution has until Aug. 18 to respond to the defense\u2019s filings. Closing arguments in the preliminary hearings for the Robinson case are scheduled to wrap up on Sept. 1, at which point the judge will decide whether Robinson will go to trial and face capital charges if he does.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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