Charlie Kirk assassination live updates: Defense attorneys question DNA evidence

Key Points:

• Defense attorney Richard Novak sought to exclude a statement about Turning Point USA's Christian values, arguing it was irrelevant to the defendant Tyler Robinson’s state of mind, but the judge provisionally admitted it pending further review.
• FBI analyst Amanda Bakker testified that DNA found on a towel wrapping the suspected murder weapon matched two people: Robinson’s roommate Lance Twiggs and likely Robinson himself, linking Robinson to the rifle used in the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
• Defense attorneys questioned the reliability of the DNA evidence, with lawyer Michael Burt challenging the FBI analyst’s methods and arguing the DNA results do not conclusively link Robinson to the weapon.
• Prosecutors, represented by Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride, maintained that the reliability of the DNA testing can be fully examined at trial and that the preliminary hearing’s purpose is to determine if the evidence meets the threshold for trial.
• The weeklong preliminary hearing continues as Robinson’s defense team focuses on undermining the prosecution’s DNA evidence connecting him to the murder weapon in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.