The trial of Tyler Robinson, who was arrested for allegedly shooting dead MAGA firebrand Charlie Kirk, has received widespread public attention. But ensuring confidentiality to secure his right to a fair trial is important, according to an expert.
ALSO READ: Tyler Robinson was waiting to get caught and didn’t have an escape plan after shooting Charlie Kirk, reveals ex-FBI officer
Randall Spencer, a senior criminal defence lawyer with experience in homicide cases, while speaking to Fox News Digital, said the evidence should be kept confidential to protect the jury pool.
“If the prosecutor or the defence is leaking quote-unquote evidence to the public… that may inhibit Tyler’s right to a fair trial,” he added.
Spencer pointed out that pre-trial secrecy will stop the jurors from forming opinions based on misleading or unofficial information.
ALSO READ: Tyler Robinson can avoid death row if his defence team can prove Charlie Kirk killing is not ‘aggravated murder’: Expert
He said the defence might choose to protray Tyler as innocent but in a more likely scenario, they would focus on the aggravating factor, which would look at the chances of Tyler’s alleged shooting causing the death of someone other than the intended victim.
If the defence manages to get the aggravated murder charge dropped, they could save Tyler from death penalty.
The lawyer also noted that Tyler’s defence team might also challenge how evidence was gathered early in the investigation. “Some evidence in the zeal of the police to work quickly may have been gathered without ensuring that the warrants were properly received,” he told the news outlet.
ALSO READ: How Tyler Robinson could get away with Charlie Kirk’s murder if prosecution messes up the timeline
He pointed out that several state and federal agencies were working on the case and the defence will have to review each of their report. “Evidence doesn’t necessarily mean something critical to guilt or innocence. Even a brief witness contact must be reviewed for context,” he explained.
Elaborating on why Tyler was absent from court hearing after the initial appearance, Spencer said it was no a “real flattering look” after he was seen in a suicide vest on the first day. “My suspicion is that the defence didn’t want that image to be the one continuing to be broadcast throughout the world,” he said, adding that protecting his image in the early stage can be crucial.
“You’ve got to start from the beginning to do all that you can to protect the public image of your client… every action is going to be scrutinised,” he told the outlet.
Tyler Robinson: How fair trial, pre-trial secrecy and jury pool could make or break Charlie Kirk murder case
