Judge Will Show Evidence Video Again At Charlie Kirk Family's Request

A lawyer representing Erika Kirk and her slain husband's parents asked a judge on Thursday (July 9) to publicly display a video montage that he said "was very hard for the family to view" when it was originally shown in court. "Your Honor, as the court knows, the family has asked that all exhibits admitted into evidence be shown here in open court. We are grateful to the court for allowing the family to view many or most of the exhibits today that were admitted. They were viewed here openly in court, and obviously that was done after the court struck what we think is the appropriate balance after a very thoughtful and thorough analysis," said Jeffrey A. Neiman, a partner with Neiman Mays Floch & Almeida PLLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "I'm going to ask the court to reconsider one of its prior rulings. I understand reconsideration is always a big ask, but I do think, Your Honor, that that if the court were to display publicly or just in the courtroom, exhibit 12.1, which is the enhanced video version 12.4, which was played in court, was very hard for the family to view." 01:32 Chad Grunander, chief deputy of the Utah County Attorney's Office: "Thank you, Judge. The state does not oppose publishing 12.4 in the courtroom. I think we've tried to make it very clear throughout this case that we favor openness and transparency as much as appropriate. I'll submit it on that. " 01:55 Robinson's lawyer Michael Burt: "Judge. At this point in the proceeding, we're asking the court to keep focus on the purpose of this hearing." 02:06 "The purpose of a trial, and I know this isn't a trial, but the same logic applies, is to determine the defendant's guilt." "It's not to educate the public or the victim's family or the world on what evidence the government or the state has, as the court knows, we have witness availability problems. We spent the bulk of today and yesterday arguing about nothing to do with the evidence in the case, but with rights of third parties, and it's appropriate for the court to consider that." 04:48 Neiman responds: "The state is the state, and mrs. Kirk and the family are have their. Representatives, that there's a completely distortion of reality that was just put forth, and this isn't about educating anybody anybody about anything.." 05:39 "So I recognize that the Utah Constitution, under Article One, Section 28 recognizes victims' rights, and the court respects those rights, and as has been previously stated, balances those rights with the constitutional rights of all parties. I will reserve my ruling on that, and maybe revisited tomorrow." Graf revisited the issue later that day. 06:29 "What we can do is at the conclusion of defense's presentation of whatever witnesses are going to do, we can address that. So, the concern I heard was that the victim represented representative wanted to see what the court would consider before bindover decision is made." 08:41 "I will grant that request, and it will be played in the courtroom for all present to see, but not to be broadcast on TV."