Tyler Robinson demands May hearings be postponed to review 'essential evidence'

The defense team representing Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has requested that May court hearings be pushed back so that they can review "essential evidence" in the case. 

While the court has scheduled Robinson’s preliminary hearings for May 18, 19, and 22, the defense team filed a motion on Friday asking that those dates be vacated or rescheduled. The case has seen extensive proceedings over the last seven months, including hearings regarding disqualifying the prosecution team, media coverage, and evidence. 

The motion read, "Mr. Robinson has the right at a preliminary hearing to present evidence, to call his own witnesses, and to have a meaningful opportunity to cross-examine the State’s witnesses through the effective assistance of counsel. Under the circumstances that presently exist, Mr. Robinson is unable to exercise those rights in a constitutionally adequate and meaningful manner," per ABC 4.

The defence claimed that they have not received existing evidence from the prosecution, and said that once they do receive it, they would need extensive time to review it. That evidence reportedly includes forensic DNA and ballistics reports, as well as testimony from law enforcement officials, Robinson’s parents, and his roommate. 

They claimed that they believe the ATF reports included in the discovery show "that the ATF was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson," and that this information would be essential to determining who to call as witnesses. 

The defense said that they have received around 20,000 files, 700 hours of video, and 31 hours of audio. They said that they received another 600,000 files on March 12, which they said is expected to take 60 days to review. 

In January, Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, filed a motion for a speedy trial in the case. The filing accused the defense team of causing "undue" and "unwarranted" delays in the case. "Nobody believed in the importance of the United States Constitution more than Charlie Kirk," the court filing stated. "And although the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants many rights, it does not guarantee them the right to cause undue delay."