Tyler Robinson Preliminary Hearing Transcript (Day 4 Part 11) (10/14/26)
Day four of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing, held July 9, centered on some of the prosecution’s most consequential evidence yet, including a recorded interview with Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs. In the interview, Twiggs described Robinson’s behavior after Charlie Kirk was killed and authenticated text exchanges in which Robinson allegedly admitted responsibility for the shooting, discussed the rifle and expressed concern that investigators would find his DNA on it. Twiggs also said Robinson later confirmed the confession in person and expressed regret about what he had done. Prosecutors additionally introduced Robinson’s handwritten note to Twiggs, which allegedly said that he had an opportunity to “take out Charlie Kirk” and took it, although Judge Tony Graf quickly ordered the image removed after it was inadvertently displayed publicly. Twiggs also identified Robinson in surveillance images with varying degrees of certainty, telling investigators that some of the later photographs definitely appeared to show him.
The state also spent a significant portion of the day strengthening the forensic connection between Robinson and the physical evidence. Investigators testified that Robinson’s DNA was found on numerous portions of the rifle recovered near Utah Valley University, including the stock, grips, trigger area, bolt and barrel, as well as on ammunition associated with the weapon. An ATF analysis also linked a rotary engraving tool recovered from Robinson’s residence to markings found on cartridge cases, supporting the prosecution’s allegation that ammunition had been engraved before the shooting. At the same time, the forensic evidence was not absolute across the board: investigators could not conclusively determine that the bullet-jacket fragment recovered during Kirk’s autopsy had been fired from the recovered rifle. By the end of the fourth day, however, prosecutors had combined Robinson’s alleged admissions, Twiggs’ account, the handwritten note, surveillance evidence and extensive DNA testimony into their clearest presentation yet of why they believe Robinson was the shooter.
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Speaker 1: What's up, everyone, and welcome back to the program. In
this episode, we're diving right back in to day number
four of the transcript from the Tyler Robinson prelim hearing.
And we're picking up with the prosecution questioning agent or
Sergeant Fomina. Question. All right. You've mentioned that you sent
several items to the ATF and the FBI for testing.
And did you receive reports back from both of those
entities with results of their testing? Answer, yes, I did. Question,
I'd like to show you on the witness screen only
right now or counsel screen exhibit 30. Judge Graff, all right.
And while you're doing that, Mr. McBride. And also, could
we go ahead and take down state exhibit 35? I
know it's just in the background, but just to be
consistent on displaying of exhibits. So they take it down.
Back to the questioning. Question, plaintiff exhibit 30. Do you
know what this is? Answer, yeah. That's the ATF report
that I received regarding the DNA testing on the gun
and cartridge and cartridge casings. Oh, sorry, correction, cartridge case
and cartridges. Question, thank you. And is this in the
same condition as it was when you received it? Answer, yes. Question,
Your Honor. I'd move to the admission of Exhibit 30.
Judge Graff, defense. Defense, no further objections, Your Honor. Judge Graff,
all right. I note the standing objections. And as to publication... Prosecution,
yes your honor, this exhibit deals with DNA testing on
the rifle and the cartridges. We would move to have
it published at all three levels. Judge Graff, alright, so,
noting the standing objection by defense, I'm going to overrule
that objection pursuant to Utah Rule of Evidence 1102. State Exhibit,
and this is 30. Prosecution, 30. Judge Graff, State Exhibit
30 is admitted into evidence and may be published on
screen in the courtroom and for the media camera. Prosecution.
I want to ask you a little bit about the
format because it may be helpful to understand here. But
on page 1 under the exhibits, we have here a
list of items that were sent in for testing and comparison.
Is that right? Answer, yes. Question. And throughout the report,
the report refers to the items compared by the lab number.
Is that right? Answer, yes. Question. So if we can
scroll down to just the bottom of the first page,
and here in the DNA analysis section again, we see
that the report or the author refers to the item
By their exhibit number, right? Answer, yes. Question, okay. And
if we can go to page two. And same question here.
The exhibit number on the left. If we want to
know what exhibit number that is, we have to refer
back to page one for the description, right? Answer, yes. Question, okay.
And let's keep going to page three. And if we
can just scroll through page three, four, and land on
page five. Actually, pause right there if you will. This
is page four. There is a description section here as well.
And that description talks about where the swabbing that's used
to compare. What was swabbed for the comparison? Is that right? Answer, yes. Question, okay.
Let's go to page five. So as we look at
the first paragraph here under statistical analysis, let's see if
you have noted or notated or no. Exhibit 1.1 and 1.4.
Do you know what that's referring to? Answer, yeah. They're
referring to 1.1 is swabs of the stock and grip
of the rifle. And then 1.4 is swabs of the
bolt of the rifle with possible ridge detail and or smudging. Question, okay,
will you read paragraph D? Answer, yeah. The DNA profiles
are at least 1 trillion times more likely if they
originated from Tyler Robinson. Exhibit 7.1 as a contributor to
the major component and three unrelated unknown individuals than if
they originated from four unrelated unknown individuals. Question and again.
That's swab of the stock and grips and bolt. Is
that right? Answer, yes. Question, okay, number two. Calculation number two.
Where is this swab taken from? Answer, exhibit 1.2 would
be swabs of the butt plate of the rifle. Question,
and will you read paragraph D here? Answer, the DNA
profile is at least one trillion times more likely if
it originated from Tyler Robinson as a major component and
four unrelated unknown individuals than if it originated from five
unrelated unknown individuals. Question, looking at calculation number three, exhibit 1.3,
what areas are swabbed for this comparison? Answer, 1.3 is
swabs of the trigger and trigger guard of the rifle
with possible ridge detail and or smudging. Question, will you
read up paragraph D? Answer, the DNA profile is at
least one trillion times more likely if it originated from
Tyler Robinson as a major component and three unrelated unknown
individuals than if it originated from four unrelated, unknown individuals. Question,
if we can go to page 6, calculation number 4,
exhibit 1.5 and 5.1, what are those? Question, sorry, 1.5
are swabs of the fore end of the rifle, and 5.1
is swabs of one. 30- 06 cartridge. Question, and again, that
cartridge came from where? Answer, from the firearm. Question, will
you read paragraph D? Answer. The DNA profiles are at
least 1 trillion times more likely if they originated from
Tyler Robinson as a major component and two unrelated, unknown
individuals than if they originated from three unrelated, unknown individuals. Question.
All right. Let's look at calculation number 5, 1.6, and 3.1.
What are those? Answer. 1.6 is swabs of the barrel
of the rifle with possible ridge detail and or smudging.
And 3.1 is swabs of one 30-06 cartridge. Question, and
that 30-06 cartridge came from where? Answer, from the firearm. Question,
will you read paragraph D? Answer, the DNA profiles are
at least 1 trillion times more likely if they originated
from Tyler Robinson as a contributor to the major components
and two unrelated unknown individuals than if they originated from
three unrelated unknown individuals. Question, okay. Statistical analysis calculation number 6,
exhibit 1.9. Where's that from? Question 1.9 is the swab
a possible ridge detail and or smudging on the optical
accessory of the rifle? Question is that the scope? Answer yeah. Question,
will you read paragraph D? Answer, the DNA profile is 6.28
billion times more likely if it originated from Tyler Robinson
as a contributor to the major component and three unrelated
unknown individuals than if it originated from four unrelated, unknown individuals. Question, okay.
And number seven. I'm not going to read that. I
think we've gone through this enough. That's the last one
in this report. Is that correct? Answer, yes. Question, all right.
We can go to Exhibit 32. 31, previously received. And
just display this on the screen of the witness, please.
I think it might display on the gallery video. Okay,
all right. Thank you. Can you see Exhibit 32 on
your screen, Agent Fulmina? Answer, yes. Question, what is this? Answer,
this is an ATF report I received in relation to
the gun, as well as cartridge case and cartridges. Question,
and is this report in the same condition as it
was when you received it? Answer, yes. Question, I move
the admission of State Exhibit 32. Judge Graff, so, question
for you. Was this the report that was previously disclosed
in one of the early motions? Prosecution, yes. Judge Graff, alright, alright. Defense? Defense,
no further objections, Your Honor. Judge Graff, all right. And
for publication level? Prosecution, all three levels. Judge Graff, all right.
As it relates to State Exhibit 32, it's accepted into
evidence and may be published in the gallery, as well
as electronic, the media camera, can capture it. And I
know that this has been previously disclosed publicly from an
earlier filing, I believe from either late last year or
early this year. So for those reasons, it's accepted into
evidence and may be published at all levels. PROSECUTION. YOUR HONOR,
IT'S 2.30. I PROBABLY HAVE 10 MORE MINUTES. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO TAKE A RECESS NOW, OR AFTER I FINISH?
JUDGE GRAFF. LET'S JUST DO THE 10 MINUTES, OKAY? PROSECUTION.
ALL RIGHT. EXHIBIT 32 IS IN FRONT OF YOU. AND
WHAT WAS BEING ANALYZED IN THIS TEST? AGENT FOMINA. WHAT'S
BEING ANALYZED WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CARTRIDGE CASE, AS WELL
AS THE BULLET FRAGMENT, AND THE LEAD FRAGMENTS THAT WERE
RECOVERED FROM MR. KIRK'S AT AUTOPSY. QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION.
ON STRUCTURE OF THE EXHIBIT. The lab number and agency
numbers are listed here on the first page, right? Answer, yes. Question,
and if you want to know what the report is
talking about, you have to refer back to there, right? Answer, yes. Question,
all right. I want to have you read. If you
can scroll down to the bottom of page one, thank you.
I would ask you to read the second line under
results of examination. Answer, yes. The exhibit one rifle was
test fired and found to be inoperable condition. The test
fires were designated inoperable. as Exhibit 1.11. Question, an Exhibit
1 rifle is what? Answer, it's the one we found
on campus. Question, okay, Exhibit 2, if you'll skip the
next line and then go to Exhibit 2 cartridge case,
will you read that sentence? Answer, yeah, the Exhibit 2
cartridge case was identified as having been fired in the
Exhibit 1 rifle. Question, okay, now I want to jump
back up to the top where it lists the exhibits,
2 through 5. Will you explain what those are and
where they came from? Answer, yeah. That would be items
we found in the gun on scene, and this was
the gun that was found in the wooded area. Question,
and so the cartridge case, is the case that had
been fired? Answer, yes. Question, okay, so that's number two,
all right? I can't remember, did we already read that line,
exhibit two, cartridge case? Answer, yes. Question, okay, thank you.
Will you also look or read the last paragraph, on
this page? Answer, yeah. The Exhibit 2 cartridge case and
Exhibit 3 through 5 cartridges were examined for the presence
of comparable tool marks. Tool marks were located on the
exterior of Exhibit 2 cartridge case and Exhibit 3 cartridges,
in parentheses, inscribed marks that are consistent with being produced
by engravings and or rotary cutting tips commonly found. Question,
got it, scroll down. Installed and handheld rotary tools such
as a Dremel tool. These tool marks contain marks of
value for comparison if a suspect tool is located. Question, okay.
I'd ask to scroll back up to show the exhibit list.
Number six, what is exhibit six? Answer, exhibit six is
the bullet jacket fragment. as well as the other fragments
that were recovered from Mr. Kirk at the time of
the autopsy. Question, thank you. Going back to page two,
if you read the first full paragraph, they're beginning with
Exhibit 6. Answer, Exhibit 6 consists of one. 30 caliber
class deformed damaged bullet jacket fragment and four lead fragments. Question,
will you read the next paragraph as well? Answer, The
Exhibit 6 bullet jacket fragment cannot be identified or excluded
as having been fired from the Exhibit 1 rifle based
on an agreement of all discernible class characteristics, and neither
sufficient agreement nor sufficient disagreement of individual characteristics. The result
of the comparison was inconclusive. Alright folks, we're going to
wrap up right here, and in the next episode dealing
with the topic we're going to pick up where we
left off. All the information that goes with this episode
can be found in the description box.