Tyler Robinson has secured a minor victory in the lead-up to his trial scheduled for next year.
Robinson, 22, was detained on charges of aggravated murder on September 12 following the killing of Charlie Kirk, an ally of Donald Trump.
Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist, was shot fatally in the neck while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. A comprehensive nationwide search followed, resulting in Robinson’s arrest two days after Kirk’s death.
Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the assassination. After Robinson’s arrest, officials disclosed text messages between him and his roommate, and the FBI reported finding his DNA at the scene of the crime.
Prosecutors in Utah County have stated their intention to pursue the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Currently held without bail in a special unit at the Utah County Jail, Robinson recently made a request to the court for permission to wear civilian clothes and have his shackles removed during court appearances.
His defense team argued that appearing in prison attire could negatively impact the jury’s perception, citing the case of Bryan Kohberger, a convicted murderer from Idaho, who was allowed to wear formal clothing in court.
The legal filing stated: “In the face of worldwide scrutiny, permitting Mr Robinson to wear civilian clothing for court appearances is a minor inconvenience compared to the already present concerns with securing a fair trial before an impartial jury.
“With each development in the case generating thousands of articles and comments online, the likelihood of potential jurors seeing and drawing conclusions regarding Mr. Robinson’s guilt and or deserved punishment from obvious signs of pretrial incarceration will only increase.”
“Given the pervasive media coverage in this case, the repeated and ubiquitous display of Mr. Robinson in jail garb, shackles, and a suicide vest will undoubtedly be viewed by prospective jurors and will inevitably lead to prosecutive juror perception that he is guilty and deserving of death,” the filing continued.
A judge has since approved Robinson’s request to wear civilian clothing during court appearances, although he must remain restrained.
During a hearing on October 27, Judge Tony Graf acknowledged the high-profile nature of the case but emphasized that Robinson’s ‘presumption of innocence remains’.
“Balancing these factors, the court finds that Mr Robinson’s right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire,” Judge Graf stated, according to BBC News.
However, due to the serious nature of the charges, Judge Graf decided Robinson should continue to be restrained in court.
Robinson will be permitted to use the ‘least restrictive’ form of restraint available.
Judge Graf explained his decision by stating: “The safety of Mr Robinson, the attorneys, court staff, and the public must remain the court’s highest priority.
“The emotional nature of these proceedings also raise the risk of disruption. Given these factors, the defendant’s request to appear without restraints is denied.”