KPCW's live blog has the latest details from reporter Connor Thomas who's in the courtroom during Kouri Richins' preliminary hearing at Summit County’s Third District Court. See complete coverage of the Kouri Richins case here.
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Live Blog: Kouri Richins in court for preliminary hearing
Published August 26, 2024 at 10:59 AM MDT
Summit County investigators never found fentanyl pills
Posted 4 minutes ago
Defense attorney Wendy Lewis has pointed out by cross-examining Summit County Det. Jeff O’Driscoll that they haven’t found pills that tested positive for fentanyl.
Kouri Richins’ housekeeper told investigators she sold her light blue or green pills that were fentanyl. O’Driscoll says he doesn’t know if they were fentanyl for sure but that they match the description of fentanyl pills commonly sold on the street.
State lodges second relevance objection
Posted 9 minutes ago
Judge Richard Mrazik overruled this one.
Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth doesn’t see how examining Det. Jeff O’Driscoll’s interviews with Kouri Richins’ housekeeper relates to whether there’s probable cause for a trial.
Mrazik seemed to agree but is allowing defense attorney Wendy Lewis to demonstrate relevance with more questioning.
The state has called O’Driscoll in the spirit of fairness to allow Lewis to cross-examine him. She was not Richins’ attorney during the detention hearing when the detective last testified.
Investigators used drug charges to persuade Richins’ housekeeper to testify:
Posted 10 minutes ago
Det. Jeff O’Driscoll had said in a previous hearing this is a common tactic in law enforcement. Prosecutors believe Kouri Richins would have obtained fentanyl from a housekeeper she employed, which they say she used to poison her husband Eric.
Defense attorney Wendy Lewis is asking O’Driscoll about his interviews with the housekeeper.
Lewis asks whether the housekeeper told investigators overdosed on fentanyl. O’Driscoll doesn’t remember.
After their interviews, Summit County investigators informed other authorities the housekeeper was being cooperative. They told the housekeeper that her cooperation in Richins’ case could reduce her other charges.
Richins associates subject of cross examination
Posted 16 minutes ago
Defense attorney Wendy Lewis asked Detective Jeff O’Driscoll why investigators didn’t look at Richins’ alleged paramour.
But Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth objected, citing irrelevance at this stage of the case. Lewis says the paramour could be an alternative suspect
But Judge Richard Mrazik sustained it, saying that’s a matter for trial, not the hearing to determine if a trial should happen.
Lewis moved on to Richins’ alleged drug dealer, and asked O’Driscoll about his interviews with her.
O’Driscoll discusses initial interview with Kouri Richins
Posted 20 minutes ago
The Summit County detective first interviewed Kouri Richins in April 2023. He says an attorney wasn’t present for that interview and that he didn’t know she had an attorney until midway through the conversation.
Lewis asked whether he alerted Richins she could have an attorney present. He remembers saying so midway through the interview.
No fentanyl found in Richins home day of Eric Richins’ death
Posted 26 minutes ago
Defense attorney Wendy Lewis is cross-examining Det. Jeff O’Driscoll of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The cross has focused on the initial search of the Richins’ home the day of Eric Richins’ death. Lewis asked if any illicit drug such as fentanyl was found the day of his death. O’Driscoll said no, despite toxicology showing Eric Richins died of a fentanyl overdose.
Prescription drugs may have been found the day of the death. THC edibles were later found, and months after the initial search, copper cups were seized.
Summit County detective takes the stand
Posted 32 minutes ago
Detective Jeff O’Driscoll has been sworn in. The state did not ask him questions, so Richins’ attorney Wendy Lewis began with the cross examination.
Preliminary hearing underway
Posted 36 minutes ago
Summit County Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth is providing the court with an overview of the state’s preliminary case.
The witness list includes Det. Jeff O’Driscoll, the investigator the state called in Richins’ detention hearing. At that hearing, 3rd District Judge Richard Mrazik ruled the Kamas mother of three should be held without bail until today’s prelim.
Richins' hearing to begin soon
Posted 42 minutes ago
People are slowly filtering into the courtroom for Kouri Richins' preliminary hearing that was delayed more than an hour.
Kouri Richins preliminary hearing delayed
Posted an hour ago
Kouri Richins is in Third District Court for her preliminary hearing. It has been delayed at least 30 minutes. No word yet on when it is expected to resume Monday.
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