Court docs reveal bullet fragment was recovered during Charlie Kirk autopsy

A bullet fragment was recovered during Charlie Kirk's autopsy after he was shot dead at Utah Valley University, according to court documents dealing with evidence in the case. The mention of the fragment was discussed in a motion from local Utah media opposing a motion from Tyler Robinson's defense in trying to block public access to evidence.

In the motion, attorneys representing the local media outlets wrote regarding evidence that the defense claimed it "could easily taint potential jurors." The defense has argued that some evidence in the case needs to be held from public view, and has made a series of motions in the case to restrict media access to the murder trial. The defense also has "refused to provide" an "underlying motion to counsel for the News Media, even on an attorneys’ eyes only basis."

After gaining access to the underlying motion, it was revealed that it "discusses and attaches a four-page ATF report on a comparison between a bullet jacket fragment recovered during an autopsy of Charlie Kirk and a rifle recovered by law enforcement," the motion from the media reads.

The result of the comparison was not conclusive, according to the court documents. The defense has argued that this evidence is exculpatory, or evidence that is favorable to absolve the defendant of guilt in a legal case. However, Robinson's lawyers argued that the underlying motion should be litigated in secret. 

"The defense’s statement that testing ‘did not reveal incriminating evidence’ demonstrates that the underlying motion should not be litigated in secret and that this case is inapposite from those where courts denied public access," the court documents said. 

Some in circles who have made outlandish claims about the shooting of Kirk have talked about the lack of an exit wound as reason for suspicion that Robinson was not the shooter. However, if the bullet was fragmented, that may be a reason why there was no exit wound. 

Robinson is being tried for Kirk’s murder, and the defense has made a number of motions that have delayed the trial process. If he is found guilty, Robinson could be sentenced to the death penalty in Utah.