Charlie Kirk live updates: Defence disputes DNA evidence in assassination hearing

Eric Ham weighs in on the fatal shooting of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk and what it could mean for the U.S. political sphere, going forward.

The weeklong preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk continues Wednesday.

Prosecutors are aiming to show that they have enough evidence against Tyler Robinson to proceed to a trial, a bar experts say they are likely to pass.

What to know:

• The 23-year-old Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus, for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Robinson’s attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.
• Robinson’s lawyers are expected to keep questioning the reliability of DNA testing that prosecutors said links the defendant to the suspected murder weapon, a rifle found wrapped inside a towel.
• On Tuesday, prosecutors showed previously unseen campus surveillance footage that investigators testified showed Robinson on the Utah Valley University campus talking with Kirk’s staff, and later returning in different clothes to shoot the conservative activist from a rooftop.

Follow for key updates:

Robinson’s roommate provided investigators with a DNA sample

FBI analyst Amanda Bakker said after Robinson’s roommate provided a DNA sample for comparison, she was able to rerun her tests and attribute all of the DNA to two people.

Investigators found the towel and suspected murder weapon — a bolt-action rifle with one spent round — in a wooded area near where Kirk was shot.

DNA on the towel matched to two people, Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigation testified. One was Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, and the other was very likely Robinson, she said.

Defence lawyer Michael Burt cast doubt

It’s a theme that’s likely to come up again during a weeklong preliminary hearing.

“She can’t match Mr. Robinson to the questioned samples,” Burt concluded.

Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride countered that the reliability of the DNA testing could be examined if the case goes to trial. He suggested the preliminary hearing was not the time to take up the matter.

“The point is there are explanations that are susceptible to different interpretations and arguments,” McBride said. “The court is going to determine if it meets the threshold of reliability at trial.”

DNA evidence from Charlie Kirk assassination disputed by defence

Lawyers for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk are expected to keep questioning the reliability of DNA testing that prosecutors said links the defendant to the suspected murder weapon when a weeklong hearing continues Wednesday.

A member of Tyler Robinson’s defence team interrogated a DNA analyst from the FBI on Tuesday about the techniques she used to connect Robinson to a rifle found wrapped inside a towel at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot in September while speaking to a crowd.

Defence lawyer Michael Burt cast doubt on the analyst’s conclusions — a theme that’s likely to come up again during a weeklong preliminary hearing.