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A video statement by the trans lover of the Utah man accused of killing Charlie Kirk is slated to be played at a July court hearing, prosecutors revealed Tuesday.
The clip will be the first public statement from Lance Twiggs, 22, since the conservative leading light was allegedly shot dead by Tyler Robinson on Sep. 10, according to a report by Fox News.
Robinson confessed to the murder to Twiggs, with whom he lived in the town of St. George, in text messages and a written note, authorities said.
Twiggs, who identifies as trans, has since fled Utah and is lying low in Texas.
The revelation came as Robinson’s lawyers asked Judge Tony Graf at a Tuesday hearing to seal parts ofa hearing in July, and to punish prosecutors for going on a “media tour” — which they claimed swayed the public against the 23-year-old accused shooter.
Robinson’s attorneys asked the judge to hold prosecutors in contempt for comments made outside of court they claim could prejudice potential jurors.
The defense also asked Graf to seal dozens of exhibits slated to come out at the July hearings to “prevent infecting the potential jury pool,” according to a court document filed Monday.
Prosecutors argued Tuesday that the preliminary hearing, in which they will present key evidence, should remain open, but they agreed that media should be restricted from viewing or copying some exhibits that could be used at a future trial.
Two videos of the shooting are expected to be played at the hearing and five police officers are set to testify, the outlet reported.
Prosecutors have claimed Robinson left a note for his romantic partner hidden under a keyboard that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Robinson also wrote in a text message about Kirk, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” prosecutors alleged.
Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.
Graf rejected a motion to ban media from the courtroom at a May 8 hearing, arguing that it was the defense’s responsibility to submit specific reasons to keep cameras out on a hearing-by-hearing basis.
Robinson is accused of assassinating the 31-year-old conservative podcaster and dad of two in September in front of a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University in Orem, where he was speaking as part of his Turning Point USA “American Comeback Tour.”
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