Daijiworld Media Network - Utah

Utah, Jul 10: A roommate of Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, told a Utah court that the suspect said he wished "he hadn't done it" a day after the killing and planned to surrender to authorities.

The testimony was presented on Thursday during the fourth day of a five-day preliminary hearing to determine whether Robinson will stand trial on an aggravated murder charge. State District Judge Tony F. Graf Jr. is expected to decide on the matter after the hearing concludes.

Lance Twiggs, Robinson's roommate and romantic partner, said in a recorded interview played in court that Robinson appeared distressed and paced around their apartment after the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University.

According to Twiggs, Robinson said he intended to confess to his parents or turn himself in to law enforcement.

Prosecutors also presented text messages allegedly exchanged between Robinson and Twiggs on the day of the shooting. In one message, Robinson reportedly wrote, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."

Court documents also allege Robinson left a note stating, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."

During the hearing, investigators said Robinson had discussed engraving messages on bullets before what he had described as a hunting trip with his family. When asked in a text how long he had been planning the attack, Robinson allegedly replied that it had been "a bit over a week."

The court was also shown photographs of the suspected murder weapon, a bolt-action rifle, which investigators said was recovered from a wooded area near the amphitheatre where Kirk was shot.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea in the case.

His defence lawyers had opposed the public release of Twiggs' recorded statements, arguing they could prejudice Robinson's right to a fair trial. However, lawyers representing Kirk's family and media organisations urged the court to make the evidence public in the interest of transparency.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was the co-founder of the conservative student organisation Turning Point USA and a political ally of US President Donald Trump.

Ahead of the hearing, Kirk's family issued a statement remembering him as a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend, saying each court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of their loss.