BREAKING NEWS: Suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson’s defense team delays key decision, halting case progress.giang

PROVO, Utah – Tyler Robinson’s defense counsel requested another hearing to determine if they’ll force prosecutors to present evidence and allow cross-examination before the case proceeds in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

During a court hearing on Monday, Utah County Chief District Attorney Chad Grunander said prosecutors have a “voluminous” amount of evidence in the case.

“There is a substantial amount of discovery in this case, Your Honor. It’s voluminous, to say the least. And we’re working on a process where we can exchange information as quickly as possible and be efficient in that process,” Grunander said.

Robinson’s defense attorney, Kathryn Nester, asked the court if she could delay a decision on whether she wants to force an evidence hearing where the defense team would be able to cross-examine witnesses.

TIMELINE OF CHARLIE KIRK’S ALLEGED ASSASSIN FROM CAMPUS SHOOTING TO SHERIFF’S OFFICE SURRENDER

“…until we can kind of get our heads around exactly what we’re dealing with and how much we need to process it, it’s going to be difficult for us to give you a reasonable expectation of when we will be ready to do the [preliminary hearing],” she said.

Judge Tony Graf set a hearing for Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. local time. Nester said Robinson would be present at the hearing.

“The goal for his new high-profile defense attorneys in the Tyler Robinson case is going to be keep him off of death row,” said Maryland attorney and legal analyst Randolph Rice, who is following the case. “And that’s probably their goal right now, or at least that’s what they’re thinking about.”

One option would be to seek a plea deal that spares Robinson from the potential death penalty, like Bryan Kohberger‘s defense in the Idaho student murders. That could be months or even years down the line.

If the case does go to trial, prosecutors will have to prove that Kirk’s murder included aggravating factors that warrant execution if the suspect is found guilty.

“What the defense may be able to argue is to say, this was a single sniper bullet that had a single intended target — and therefore it posed no other danger to anyone else,” Rice told Fox News Digital. “And if they can prove that to a jury or they can convince a jury of that, then they won’t get the aggravating murder, and therefore they won’t have the death penalty on the table.”

Robinson, like all criminal defendants in the U.S., is considered innocent until proven guilty. But prosecutors are expected to unveil a mountain of evidence in court, and the politically charged case is being closely watched around the country.

Salt Lake City-based criminal defense attorney Skye Lazaro told Fox News Digital it’s “not common” for state courts to waive a defendant’s appearance, but it’s something attorneys can request.

Lazaro said she’s not surprised such a request was granted, but said she’d think the judge in Robinson’s case would want to get an affirmative waiver from Robinson himself.

Robinson is still being held within a special housing unit at the Utah County Jail, Sgt. Raymond Ormond told Fox News Digital. Ormond said Robinson’s attorneys requested the virtual appearance with no video because the hearing was expected to be short, adding it’s not unheard of for defendants to not appear by video.