A recorded police interview played on the fourth day of a preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah, has provided the most direct account yet of the accused assassin’s state of mind following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In the video, Lance Twiggs, the former roommate and romantic partner of defendant Tyler Robinson, told investigators that Robinson confirmed his involvement in the shooting and “started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn’t done it.” The testimony, partially redacted by order of State District Judge Tony Graf, was presented as prosecutors sought to establish probable cause to bring Robinson to trial on charges of aggravated murder, for which they are seeking the death penalty.

According to Utah prosecutors, the interview forms part of a broader evidentiary record that includes text messages in which Robinson allegedly confessed to the shooting, telling Twiggs he had “had enough of his hatred,” and a handwritten note stating he had “the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Twiggs, who was granted immunity for his cooperation, also described Robinson borrowing a rotary tool to engrave messages on bullets weeks before the attack. Defence attorneys, however, have challenged the reliability of the prosecution’s forensic evidence, with a ballistics expert acknowledging that tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body were inconclusive. Earlier in the week, the defence questioned DNA evidence linking Robinson to the scene, though experts note the underlying science is widely accepted.

The hearing has drawn intense public and political scrutiny, with spectators camping overnight for scarce courtroom seats and the proceedings livestreamed to a national audience. Viewed from Washington, the case has become entangled in partisan narratives: Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of Kirk, attended the hearing and later declared on his podcast that the evidence was “overwhelming” and that conspiracy theories surrounding the killing should be put “at rest.” His remarks prompted a backlash from some of Kirk’s supporters, who accused him of betrayal and continued to question the official account. The Kirk family, through their attorney, urged the judge to allow all evidence to be displayed openly, arguing that transparency was essential to prevent public distrust in the judicial system.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the youth organisation Turning Point USA and a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, was shot in the neck while speaking to a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University on 10 September 2025. The killing intensified concerns over political violence in the United States, already heightened by a series of attacks on public figures. Robinson, a 23-year-old electrician’s apprentice, surrendered to authorities the following day and has not yet entered a plea. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to conclude on Friday, after which Judge Graf will hear oral arguments on 1 September before ruling whether the case will proceed to trial.