Wire reporting: (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, asked a Utah judge to reject a 2029 trial timetable sought by lawyers for Tyler Robinson and to set the case for 2027, FOX 13 Salt Lake City and KSL reported^1,2. Reuters separately reported that Robinson requested a 2029 trial³. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Local 10 carried an Associated Press report that defense lawyers suggested 2029 because they said preparation could take that long^4,5.

A hearing on the trial schedule is set for Friday before Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf, FOX 13 and the AP report carried by the Inquirer and Local 10 said^1,4,5. KSL said Kirk's lawyers filed a victim's motion on Thursday after the defense projected a start in late 2029². The AP report said the defense filing was made Wednesday⁴.

Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including aggravated murder, in the fatal shooting of Kirk at a 2025 university event for Turning Point USA, FOX 13 reported¹. KSL said the shooting was at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10, 2025². The AP report said he pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, turned himself in a day after the shooting, and that his lawyers have not offered an alternative account of Kirk's death^4,5. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted of murder, according to FOX 13; the AP report said he could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted^1,4,5.

Defense lawyers asked for jury selection in the second half of 2029, FOX 13 reported¹. KSL said they want about three more years to prepare a capital case, citing the volume of evidence². The AP report said they described tens of thousands of files from prosecutors, said they would need extensive investigation into Robinson's background for possible sentencing issues, and said substantial time would be needed on issues such as jury selection^4,5.

Kirk's lawyer wrote that the request was grossly out of line and that the trial should be set for 2027, FOX 13 reported¹. The AP report identified that lawyer as Jeffrey Neiman and said he asked that the trial start next October, the earliest date prosecutors identified^4,5. FOX 13 and KSL said a filing stated Kirk's children were 3 and 1 when their father was killed and would be 7 and 5 by a verdict under the defense schedule^1,2. The AP report gave different ages, saying the children were 1 and 3 and would be 6 and 8 by the time a trial under the defense schedule concluded^4,5.

KSL reported that Kirk's counsel cited Utah code on a victim's right to a speedy disposition of charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant². FOX 13 said Kirk's filing also argued that a large volume of state evidence is not a lawful reason for delay¹. The AP report said Kirk's attorneys argued Thursday that the defense schedule was delay^4,5.

The state proposed an early 2028 start for a trial it expects to last 17 weeks, FOX 13 and KSL reported^1,2. KSL said the Utah County Attorney's Office recommended a 17-week trial beginning Jan. 31, 2028². The AP report said prosecutors told the court they would be ready by October 2027 and proposed Jan. 31, 2028 rather than holding the trial through Thanksgiving and Christmas^4,5. The AP report also said Utah County prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk over political beliefs and cited physical and digital evidence they attribute to him^4,5.

The AP report said President Donald Trump posted before the hearing that the case should be tried within a month and criticized the pace of the court^4,5. A later KSL headline said Robinson was returning Friday, when the judge could schedule a jury trial; that page was not independently readable⁶. What the judge will order was not reported^1,4,5,6. Reuters's full report was not independently readable beyond its headline³.

Sources

1. FOX 13 Salt Lake CityErika Kirk calls Tyler Robinson defense team's trial timeline ‘out of line’Oct 23, 12:38 PM
2. KSLErika Kirk moves for speedy trial as defense requests trial date 4 years after Charlie Kirk killedOct 23, 10:02 AM
3. ReutersTyler Robinson requests 2029 trial for alleged murder of Charlie KirkOct 23, 1:05 PM
4. (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)Defense attorneys in Charlie Kirk's killing say they need years to prepare for trialAlso (AP, via Local 10)Oct 23, 1:42 PM
5. KSLJudge could set trial dates for Tyler Robinson in Friday afternoon hearingOct 23, 12:58 PM

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