PROVO, Utah — As the week-long preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting conservative figure Charlie Kirk, nears its end, video testimony from Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former lover, is set to be played in court Thursday morning.

Prosecutors had planned to present the video on Wednesday, but following objections from the defense, Judge Tony Graf Jr. ordered redactions to approximately 16 minutes of the roughly 37-minute video. The defense raised constitutional concerns about televising what they described as a "confession" before trial. Prosecutors opted to delay playing the video until Thursday morning to ensure compliance with the court's order.

The full video is expected to include Twiggs discussing texts, chat logs, and a note that the defense contends could influence public perception and prosecutorial considerations.

During the hearing, Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, was seen sharing emotional embraces with her mother-in-law and wiping away tears. When family attorney Jeff Neiman requested the court to play the unredacted video publicly, Erika appeared to urge him from the gallery to approach the podium for the first time since the hearing began.

Defense attorney Kathryn Nester was observed consulting with Robinson during the proceedings at the Fourth District Court in Provo. Judge Graf emphasized that the court has tools available to ensure Robinson receives a fair trial and will use them if necessary.

The Kirk family has expressed a strong belief that if evidence is admitted during the preliminary hearing, it should be made public without redactions.

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