A new legal twist has shaken the ongoing Charlie Kirk assassination case, raising fears that a single procedural vulnerability could upend one of the most high-profile prosecutions in recent memory. Utah defense attorney Skye Lazaro, speaking with Fox News, revealed that a potential flaw in the timeline of events surrounding the shooting could be the key that changes everything.
The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, during a public event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Authorities say Robinson carried out the attack with a legally purchased rifle and later returned to the crime scene before being arrested roughly 33 hours later in his hometown in southern Utah. Prosecutors have charged him with aggravated murder, a capital offense, and confirmed they intend to seek the death penalty.
But according to Lazaro, the defense may have found an opening. The issue lies in the sequence and timing of key interactions — specifically, an alleged encounter Robinson had with a police officer near the university parking garage shortly after the shooting. The officer’s body camera was reportedly inactive, and the timestamps on several pieces of digital evidence, including text messages Robinson allegedly sent to his partner, are missing or incomplete.
That missing data, Lazaro says, could allow the defense to question the reliability of the state’s entire timeline — from when Robinson was near the scene to how quickly police established probable cause. “If you can’t prove when something happened, you can’t prove why it happened,” Lazaro explained. “The timeline is the spine of the case. If it breaks, the body collapses.”
Prosecutors insist their evidence is strong. They have phone records, weapon recovery logs, and witness statements tying Robinson to the scene. But defense lawyers are already using procedural tactics to delay hearings and expand the discovery process, reportedly requesting up to a year before a preliminary hearing is held. This time, Lazaro says, will be used to dissect every timestamp, video feed, and officer report — piece by piece.
Another key element involves Robinson’s partner, Lance Twiggs, who is cooperating with investigators. Twiggs told police that Robinson confessed via text, but without clear timestamps or cell-tower verification, defense attorneys may argue that those messages could have been fabricated, altered, or sent at a different time. Such a claim could weaken one of the prosecution’s most direct links to motive and intent.
Legal experts caution that while it’s unlikely the case will be “derailed entirely,” the timeline flaw could force major delays and open new avenues for appeals. “This doesn’t mean Robinson walks free,” said one former prosecutor familiar with federal procedures. “But it does mean the prosecution has to be perfect from this point forward — one misstep, and the death penalty could be off the table.”
For Kirk’s supporters and family, the news is deeply unsettling. Many had hoped for swift justice and closure. Social media has since erupted with anger, as users accuse the justice system of “dragging its feet” and giving the suspect too much legal leeway.
As the investigation continues, both sides are preparing for a drawn-out battle that could last well into 2026. The discovery of this flaw — however small — has already shifted the tone of the entire case. In the words of Lazaro: “Sometimes, it’s not what you find in a courtroom that changes history. It’s what you can’t prove.”