Provo • A defense expert warned Friday that a “sensational and misleading” wave of media coverage — amplified by cameras in the courtroom — has already shaped public opinion of the Utah man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, and could jeopardize his right to a fair trial.

Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson have asked a Utah County judge to cut off cameras from his court hearings in an effort to contain the flow of potentially prejudicial information to future jurors.

Lawyers for The Salt Lake Tribune and other media outlets are opposing the defense team’s efforts. Utah County prosecutors have acknowledged that Robinson’s case has received intense public interest — including to some distorted online information — but they argued that more transparency can help with public confidence, accuracy and trust in the criminal justice system.

Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf heard testimony on Friday, and is expected to announce his ruling May 8. Robinson is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s Sept. 10 death. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.

On Friday, Bryan Edelman, a California trial consultant, pointed to examples during his testimony where news commentators gave their opinions, calling Robinson a “monster,” or focused on high-interest details in court records, like text messages the defendant allegedly sent to his roommate after the shooting, rather than what actually happened inside the courtroom that day.

Robinson’s defense team also showed examples of a Salt Lake City TV station enlisting “body language experts” to analyze the defendant’s movements and facial expressions in court.

“[It’s like,] nothing interesting happened at this hearing, let’s find something interesting to talk about,” Edelman said.

This type of “sensational and misleading” coverage, Edelman said, could undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Edelman also testified that he surveyed about 200 people in Utah County, and nearly every one of them knew of Robinson’s case. More than 60% had negative feelings towards him, he testified — which defense attorney Michael Burt suggested could be influenced by negative news coverage.

But Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander pointed out during cross-examination that many of the same people surveyed also had negative opinions about Kirk — calling him “inflammatory,” “harmful,” and a “misogynist.”

Edelman agreed that some people felt negatively about Kirk, but said he didn’t believe that would affect whether a jury would find Robinson guilty.

He warned that if cameras are left in the courtroom going forward — especially as more evidence becomes public during a preliminary hearing or other evidentiary hearings — it could lead to problems seating an impartial jury or require moving the trial elsewhere.

Christine Ruva, a University of South Florida psychology professor, testified on Friday that media reports can cause an “unconscious bias” in jurors, where their recollection of evidence may be a combination of both prejudicial publicity and what was presented at a trial. They can bring that mix of memories into deliberations, she said.

“The two sources are basically entangled,” she testified.

Grunander told the judge that some of the online coverage and podcasts about Robinson’s case are “probably not journalistic in nature,” but added that those who have photographed or live-streamed the court proceedings so far have been legacy media outlets.

“ABC4. KSL News. These are journalists,” he said, adding that it’s difficult to control “what is being done with the coverage by third parties.”

Burt, the defense attorney, urged the judge to block the cameras saying that their expert’s survey results show that not everyone has a negative perception of Robinson — yet. But that could change if video footage continues.

“We still have a chance,” he said, “of keeping this case in this county.”