Tyler Robinson appeared calm at the start of his virtual court appearance on Tuesday

The 22-year-old Utah resident is accused of murdering far-rightwing activist Charlie Kirk last week (
Image: COURT TV)

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident accused of murdering far-right activist Charlie Kirk last week, appeared virtually before court on Tuesday following a charge of aggravated murder levied against him earlier in the day.

Robinson was seen wearing an anti-suicide vest in a four-way video call on Tuesday afternoon from the Utah County Jail.

No attorney was listed in the Utah online court docket even after preliminary charges were filed against him, according to The Associated Press.

Judge Tony Graf asked him to state his name. “Tyler James Robinson,” he replied in a neutral tone while leaning closer to the microphone.

“Thank you for being here,” Graf said. “Mr. Robinson, at this time, you will remain in custody without bail.”

Robinson is being held on charges including felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice.

Chief among the charges is one count of aggravated murder, a capital offense which if convicted in the state of Utah could result in the death penalty.

A Utah state lawyer said a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has been officially filed.

A Utah state lawyer said a notice of intent to seek death penalty has been officially filed (Image:COURT TV)

“Within the last few minutes, a notice of intent to seek the death penalty was filed by Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray so that should be in the court’s file,” they said.

Judge Graf described the “aggravated factors” in the case, which included Robinson’s alleged targeting of Kirk for his political views, and that children were present at the time of the shooting.

A sentencing judge or parole board would consider these factors as the case progresses, he said.

The suspect did not show up with an attorney. Judge Graf said during the brief virtual hearing that he will be given a court-appointed attorney as he was deemed indigent.

“The judge stated that he will be appointed a public defender to represent him.

Although, it’s unclear if that counsel was already present in the physical court room or on the phone line or not at all,” said Eric A.Baldwin, a legal expert and postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford Law School.

“Although, if I had to guess, they were on the phone or in person.

It would be highly irregular for a defendant to have no counsel at an initial appearance and for the judge to proceed.”

“Any public defender is appointed because his family, or he himself, a legal adult, can’t afford it,” Baldwin added.

“Most people don’t have private counsel on retainer, (except for the most affluent and organized defendants) to appear so quickly if they are arrested.

Thus, often the public defender handles initial appearance until you hire a private attorney.”

“In the current era, you don’t even have to be indigent to get a public defender, many people just get it anyway, without any financial check, although this varies a lot between jurisdiction.”

The Tuesday hearing adjourned after Judge Graf told Robinson that his next hearing will be on Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. local time. His appointed attorney will be available by then, he said.

Throughout the hearing, Robinson remained silent and did not display any overt emotion, even as the judge read the list of charges.