PROVO, Utah — A lawyer for the accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson drew rebukes inside and outside the courtroom Tuesday over remarks that painted the victim as the one behaving "hatefully" before he was shot and killed in front of thousands of people during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University."I think what the defense attorney said regarding Charlie Kirk and that he was full of hate, that was so unprofessional," said David Gelman, a New Jersey-based criminal defense attorney who has been following the case."That was so out of left field that he honestly — he should be embarrassed of what he said."Robinson, 23, is accused of assassinating the 31-year-old father of two at Utah Valley University on Sept.
10, 2025, as Kirk was speaking in front of thousands of onlookers during a Turning Point USA event on campus.TYLER ROBINSON HEARING COULD DECIDE DEATH PENALTY FATE, FINALLY SEE PLEA IN CHARLIE KIRK CASEDefense attorney Richard Novak during closing arguments in the preliminary hearing as he turns towards Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, at the 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday, Sept.1, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune)"Mr.Kirk spoke hatefully of certain groups of people," California-based defense attorney Richard Novak claimed during his argument against binding over the case for trial.
He went on to say that there was a "significant gap" between what Kirk stood for and what Robinson felt about him.As Novak repeated the phrase, Kirk's parents, widow and other relatives were in court.They exchanged looks and some teared up.
Erika Kirk leaned forward and said something to an aide with the county attorney's office.TYLER ROBINSON HEARING: TOP MOMENTS FROM EXPLOSIVE LANCE TWIGGS INTERVIEW PLAYED IN COURT"You don't ever and I mean ever say that, No.1, as a defense attorney or a prosecutor, especially not even at a trial," Gelman said.
"If you want to paint Charlie as a bad person in front...