Charlie Kirk's suspected killer smirks during first court appearance as mother drowns in tears

While entering the courtroom, he flashed a smile towards the people sitting in the rows reserved for families.

Sitting in the row was his sobbing mother, who was seen wiping her eyes with a tissue.

Sitting down with his legal team, the suspected killer appeared to be in good spirits as he continued grinning during their discussions.

Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk while hosting a live debate event at Utah Valley University on September 10.

Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty against Robinson, who has yet to enter a plea to the charges against him.

Beyond the aggravated murder charge, he also faces a raft of additional allegations.

These include felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and committing a violent offence in the presence of a child.

His two prior court appearances were conducted remotely, the first via video link and the second through audio only.

Robinson's legal team and the Utah County Sheriff's Office have requested that Judge Tony Graf prohibit cameras from the courtroom entirely.

The judge has already made certain concessions to protect Robinson's presumption of innocence, acknowledging the case has attracted "extraordinary" public attention.

Media outlets have been barred from filming or photographing Robinson in restraints, with his lawyers arguing that widespread images of him shackled and wearing jail clothing could prejudice potential jurors.

Much of the case has proceeded behind closed doors, with both sides jointly moving to classify audio and transcripts from a closed October hearing as "private."

Erika Kirk, the victim's widow, has voiced her frustration at the restrictions shielding the accused from public view.

"There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," she said.

"There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there," the widow added.

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