Charlie Kirk's family hit out as judge redacts part of Tyler Robinson's transgender lover's video testimony

By ELIOT FORCE, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:13, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 01:13, 9 July 2026 Charlie Kirk's family has demanded that testimony from Tyler Robinson's transgender lover be played in full in court after a judge ruled that part of it could be redacted.  Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Kirk, is currently facing a week-long preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors are seeking to prove they have enough evidence to take the case to trial.  The 23-year-old alleged assassin could be put to death if he is convicted of murdering Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.  Judge Tony Graf ruled on Wednesday that video from Robinson’s lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, could be published, except for about a 1-minute-and-20-second portion, which the prosecution said they will edit and play in court on Thursday. A Kirk family representative shot back at the decision and said in court: 'To not be transparent, to not be open, to not let the world see what happened will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system, and that’s not what anybody wants.' 'That’s not what any of us believe should happen here and we’d ask the court to consider the position of the family and making this decision,' the representative added.  Robinson’s defense argued that portions of the video are irrelevant and that playing it could impact his right to a fair trial, and they submitted a 20-page transcript of the interview, along with proposed redactions. The testimony in question comes from two interviews police conducted with Twiggs, one of which occurred on September 12, the day after Robinson turned himself in, and the other on April 20.  Video played in court showed Tyler Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff's Office when he turned himself in A weeklong preliminary hearing is underway, during which prosecutors are seeking to prove they have enough evidence to take the case against Tyler Robinson to trial Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, have been at court every day this week for the evidence hearing.  Prosecutors on Wednesday also showed a video of Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin turning himself in to cops.  Robinson has remained in custody since his family convinced him to turn himself in after recognizing him in surveillance photos shared nationwide during a frenzied manhunt for Kirk's killer. The video of Robinson turning himself in was introduced as evidence while Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis was testifying. The video depicts Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff's Office while his parents and friend waited. Davis said after Robinson and his parents were interviewed, Robinson was placed under arrest. He also added that he interviewed Robinson’s mother, and other law enforcement officers interviewed Robinson and Robinson’s father. A family friend who came in with the Robinsons also was interviewed, Davis said Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn (pictured), have been at court every day this week for the evidence hearing Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis testified that he interviewed Robinson's mother when he turned himself in The clip was one of several presented during days of testimony to decide whether the case should proceed to trial. On Tuesday, prosecutors presented bombshell evidence that they say places Robinson at the scene of the murder. In surveillance allegedly showing Robinson moments before Kirk was killed, the suspect was seen walking with an apparent limp - keeping his right leg straight as he climbed stairs on the way to the 'snipers perch' on a nearby rooftop. The video blew a hole in conspiracy theories that claim Robinson 'never set foot on the campus.' Former Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull described the footage as it was played to court. He revealed that Robinson spoke with members of Kirk's group, Turning Point USA, and got Chick-fil-A before the shooting, then changed his clothes before the murder. On Monday, Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley - the first officer at the scene - testified that he was near the stage when Kirk was hit by a single bullet in the neck, sending the crowd scrambling for safety. Bagley described the moments as 'chaotic,' but said he quickly realized there was a raised roof across from where Kirk was shot that could have been where the assassin fired from. Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 He testified that he raced to the rooftop of the Losee Center building and found a 'sniper pad,' with the gravel on the roof imprinted from where the suspect had laid down to take the fatal shot. The weapon was described as a bolt-action rifle with one spent round. It was found after in a wooded area near where Kirk was shot and, according to police, a towel wrapped around the weapon tested positive for Robinson's DNA. Investigators have also claimed to have found bullet casings engraved with political messages in the gun.