Pretrial Hearings Begin as Robinson’s Defense Prepares Last-Minute Moves

“This seems like the proverbial slam dunk at this stage of the case, where the only issue is whether there is a sound basis for moving forward with a trial on the merits,” Cassell told the Associated Press.

Under Utah law, prosecutors may seek the death penalty only if they can establish that a crime involved one or more statutory aggravating circumstances.

If convicted and sentenced to death, Robinson could be executed by either lethal injection or a firing squad, the two methods authorized under Utah law.