The man accused of killing United States political activist Charlie Kirk has appeared in person for the first time in a Utah court.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder following the September 10 shooting of Kirk, who was on his “prove me wrong” university campus speaking tour.

This pre-trial hearing marks the first time Robinson has appeared in person; he joined previous hearings by video link from jail.

The Daily Mail reported Robinson acknowledged his family with a smile as he entered the Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, with his legal team.

The family were seated in a reserved row in the front of the courtroom, and his mother was seen wiping away tears with a tissue.

The prosecution is planning to seek the death penalty.

Robinson wore a dress shirt with a pink and blue patterned tie. His ankles and wrists were cuffed with restraints.

An outspoken supporter of US President Donald Trump, Kirk was debating mass shootings with university students when the bullet struck him in the neck.

Prosecutors said the bullet “passed closely to several other individuals”, including the person he had been debating.

A charging document from September features incriminating texts between Robinson and his roommate after Kirk’s death.

Robinson was described by the Daily Mail as appearing “dishevelled and expressionless” as Judge Tony Graf read out the charges against him.

The court heard arguments about whether cameras and media should be allowed to broadcast the hearing.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office asked for cameras to be banned.

But widow Erika Kirk showed her support for full transparency, saying, “we deserve to have cameras in there”.

Judge Graf had previously acted to protect Robinson’s presumption of innocence, acknowledging the case has generated “extraordinary” public attention.

Associated Press reported that attorney for the media coalition Michael Judd said an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process,” and promotes public confidence in the court proceedings.

The Daily Mail said Robinson’s lawyers said the pre-trial attention was widespread, pointing to President Trump’s early statements: “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”