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Accused Murderer Skips Court, Veteran Defense Team Assembled
30 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Accused murderer Tyler Robinson absent from court hearing
- Defense team includes lawyers who represented Lyle Menendez, Eric Rudolph, and Richard Ramirez
- $1 million approved for trial expenses due to Robinson being declared indigent
On September 29, 2025, the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk was scheduled to appear in a Utah courtroom for his waiver hearing. However, Tyler Robinson remained at the Utah County Jail for the proceedings, despite a court order requesting his in-person appearance. No reason was given for his absence.
Robinson's defense team, led by Kathryn Nester, did appear in court, providing the first look at the experienced lawyers assembled to handle his case. Nester, a veteran trial attorney, previously headed the Federal Defender offices in Salt Lake City and San Diego. She has also been appointed to represent Kouri Richins, another high-profile murder case in Utah.
Joining Nester's team are Richard Novak, a former deputy federal public defender, and Michael Burt, who defended Lyle Menendez during his first trial, which ended in a mistrial. Burt has also represented other notorious defendants, including Eric Robert Rudolph and the "Night Stalker" serial killer Richard Ramirez.
The Utah County Commission has approved $1 million in funding for the trial, which will cover the hiring of additional prosecutors and paralegals, as well as the costs for Nester and her team, as Robinson has been declared indigent by the court.
