A status hearing for the 22-year-old Utah resident accused of killing Charlie Kirk will be held virtually, local media outlet KJZZ reported. The Utah County Commission has also appointed a top public defender to represent Tyler Robinson in the case.
Hearing to be held virtually
Monday’s hearing marks Robinson’s second virtual court appearance since he allegedly assassinated Kirk, a right-wing activist and conservative firebrand, during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
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According to KJZZ, Robinson was initially expected to appear in person. However, the hearing will now take place virtually, either due to safety concerns or because Robinson’s attorneys don’t want their client to be seen in shackles.
Robinson will appear virtually from the Utah County Jail, where he’s currently being held in a special housing unit under increased supervision.
High-profile public defender assigned to case
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, it was revealed that the Utah County Commission had appointed Robinson an attorney –– former federal public defender Kathryn Nester. In a press release, the commission said it made its decision “on the advice of an independent criminal defense attorney.”
Nester, who has more than three decades of experience in the courtroom, has handled several high-profile cases in the past. She represented a former leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a food stamp fraud case.
Nester also represented a doctor accused of COVID-19 fraud, as well as the shooter in a San Diego synagogue case. Nester is currently in the midst of representing Kouri Richins, a children’s book author accused of murdering her husband.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, both prosecuting and defending Robinson’s case will cost county taxpayers more than $1 million over the next year.
The commission appointed Nester to the case after determining that Robinson couldn’t afford his own defense. While Utah County does have a pool of public defenders it can hire from, the complexity of Robinson’s case necessitated a more experienced lawyer.
“We’re going to approve over a million dollars today in an expense for an event that we didn’t want,” Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran told the Salt Lake Tribune.“None of us wanted [it] and it happened to be here, and our taxpayers will now foot the bill. It’s very unfortunate, but we don’t have a choice. We have to do it.”
Robinson has been charged with one count of aggravated murder and could face the death penalty under Utah law.
