Attorney representing Charlie Kirk’s accused killer is former top public defender

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Tyler Robinson's defence is expected to cost at least US$750,000 (S$969,650).

Tyler Robinson's prosecution and defence are expected to cost Utah taxpayers more than US$1.3 million (S$1.68 million).

PHOTO: REUTERS

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The Utah criminal defence attorney appointed to represent Mr Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin previously represented a once-fugitive leader of a polygamous sect and was a top public defender in Salt Lake City and San Diego.

Ms Kathryn Nester, of the Salt Lake City-based law firm Nester Lewis, was appointed to represent Tyler Robinson, the Utah County Commission said in a press release on Sept 24.

The state is seeking the death penalty for Robinson, who was charged with one count of aggravated murder after

he allegedly shot Mr Kirk, 31, in the neck

during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept 10.

Ms Nester declined to comment.

Ms Nester previously led the federal public defender’s office in the District of Utah and served as the executive director of Federal Defenders of San Diego. She represented Lyle Jeffs, a former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an unacknowledged offshoot of the Mormon Church, according to federal court records.

Jeffs in 2016 escaped home confinement while awaiting trial on food stamp fraud. He later pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud and failure to appear and was sentenced to 57 months in prison.

Ms Nester also represented John Earnest, who faced death-penalty-eligible charges after he opened fire at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in suburban San Diego in 2019, killing one person.

Ms Nester and the Federal Defenders of San Diego withdrew as Earnest’s defence counsel in 2020 due to a conflict. Earnest later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

She also represented Mr Michael Kirk Moore, a Utah doctor accused of falsifying Covid-19 vaccination certificates and destroying more than US$28,000 (S$36,200) worth of government-provided Covid-19 vaccines, according to federal court records. US Attorney-General Pam Bondi dropped the case against him in July.

Ms Nester’s partner at the firm, Ms Wendy Lewis, was one of the Utah federal public defenders who represented Brian David Mitchell, the homeless street preacher convicted of kidnapping Ms Elizabeth Smart. Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison in May 2011.

Ms Nester is also currently representing Kouri Richins, who wrote a children’s book about grief and is now facing criminal charges for allegedly poisoning her husband, according to press reports.

A spokesperson for the Utah County Commission said the county is expecting Robinson’s defence to cost at least US$750,000, and it is planning to spend more than US$1.3 million on Robinson’s prosecution and defence.

Robinson is scheduled to appear in court on Sept 29. REUTERS

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