Tyler Robinson in court as Utah judge weighs sanctions against prosecutors

Key Points:

• Judge Tony Graf denied Tyler Robinson's defense team's request to compel testimony from Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former roommate and lover, during the July preliminary hearing, citing the limited purpose of such hearings.
• Graf ruled that hearsay evidence, including prerecorded testimony and forensic reports, will be allowed at the preliminary hearing, emphasizing that constitutional protections at this stage are limited to determining probable cause.
• Robinson's defense is seeking to remove the death penalty as a sanction after prosecutors allegedly violated a gag order by discussing the case publicly, arguing that striking the State’s death notice is necessary to enforce court orders and ethical rules.
• Prosecutors deny any gag order violation, stating their comments were intended to correct misleading defense filings that had resulted in viral misinformation regarding ballistic evidence.
• Judge Graf postponed ruling on the potential gag order violation and death penalty removal until a hearing scheduled for Friday morning.