UT - Kouri Richins, 33, Author, wife, mom, charged in husband’s unexpected death last year, May 2023 #3

[arielilane]

@HiddenTrueCrime


Court is done for the day. Judge ended by saying "Ms. Richins, I'll see you on February 3rd. I wish you the best of luck."



7:32 PM · Jan 23, 2025

 

[Knox]

 

[Kittybunny]

She’s such a greedy evil dingbat.

 

[Cindizzi]

 

[arielilane]

Kouri Richins Evidentiary Hearing Concludes: “Walk the Dog” Letter Argued | LIVE WITH LAUREN​

 

[Niner]

I take it that the Judge did not rule yet on this evidence? TIA!

 

[Seattle1]

I take it that the Judge did not rule yet on this evidence? TIA!

Kouri Richins' defense challenges legality of evidence collection in husband's murder case

Kouri Richins, the mother accused of killing her husband and later writing a children's book about grief, appeared in court once again Thursday in Summit County

kutv.com

1/23/25

The judge did not make any decisions as topics were discussed. A follow up hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 3.

 

[Niner]

Trying to reply to above post - but it won't Reply or Quote - but from this article

The judge did not make any decisions as topics were discussed. A follow up hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 3.

 

[Justice101]

So, can someone please give a brief summary of what happened today? I've got too much on my plate. ha!

 

[Seattle1]

So, can someone please give a brief summary of what happened today? I've got too much on my plate. ha!

Sorry, not aware of anything happening today on this case.

Next hearing was tentatively set for Feb 3 where the Court may have a decision on the evidentiary hearing from last week --i.e., whether any evidence gets tossed before trial. OP can always check the MEDIA ONLY thread for a quick update.

 

[Niner]

Monday, February 3rd:
*Juror Questionnaire Hearing (@ 9:30am MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on Mar. 3, 2022 in Kamas. - *Kouri Darden Richins (33/now 34) arrested (5/8/23) & charged (6/5/23) & arraigned (8/27/24) with 2nd degree aggravated murder & 3 counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. [These charges were dismissed on 3/25/24-see recharges]. Re-charged (3/25/24) with 2 counts of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 2 counts of 2nd degree mortgage fraud (Iron Bridge Financial & Boomerang Finance), 2 counts of 2nd degree insurance fraud & 2 counts of 3rd degree forgery. Plead not guilty (8/27/24). Held without bond. Bond denied (6/12/23). DA will not seek DP (8/18/23). 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
*Civil case vs Katie Richins Benson. Property dispute.
Civil case [#221200316]: After Kouri failed to show evidence she complied with the agreement, Justice Court Judge Brendan McCullagh found Kouri guilty of the assault on 5/13/24.
Murder Trial set to begin on 4/28/25 with jury selection on 4/21/25. (Trial thru 5/22/25).
Third District court Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 12/2/24 reference post #360 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-18
12/12/24 Update: Both sides agree they need more time to make their cases for and against the Richens. The Summit County Attorney’s Office & attorneys for Richins both told that to a 3rd District Judge at a pretrial conference Thursday, Dec. 12. Richins’ murder trial was originally scheduled for two weeks in May 2025. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik has now given both teams another week in court. But he had to move up the trial to accommodate the extra time. Richins’ murder trial now begins 4/28/25. With the accelerated timeline, Mrazik also moved up jury selection to the week of 4/21/25. The sides agree the intense media coverage of the Richins murder case has complicated jury selection. Until Thursday, prosecutors & the defense thought they’d have jurors from both Summit & Salt Lake counties. But now, Judge Mrazik says he’s not allowed to call jurors from Salt Lake. That’s because of a recent order from a 3rd District presiding judge regarding in-person versus virtual jury selection. Presiding Judge Laura Scott denied prosecutors’ & defense attorneys’ request for in-person jury selection, and in her order, mentions that both sides have agreed to expand the jury pool. Scott says there’s “a significant & unwarranted burden” on jurors driving from Salt Lake to Summit County “for in-person jury selection.” Richins’ next is evidentiary hearing is 1/23/25 when the court is expected to decide which evidence will be admissible during the murder trial [including electronic data, statements made to police & documents seized from her jail cell]. Hearings are also scheduled for March & April to make other pretrial decisions. Juror questionnaire hearing on 2/3/25 @ 9:30am.
1/23/25 Update: The state would like to admit multiple exhibits for this hearing only. First witness is Detective Maynard. Witness #2 Detective [Deputy] Woody. Attorney Nester is saying that they plan to challenge the sixth amendment rights later today based on O'Driscoll's interview of Kouri when her attorney said not to question her. Prosecution argues there was no judicial case happening at that point, so 6th amendment is not relevant. 3rd Witness on the stand was Lead Crime Scene Investigator [Summit County Sheriff] Gibson. 4th witness Detective O’Driscoll. 5th witness was Mr. Benson, Brother-in-law of Kouri (the husband of Eric’s sister, Katie Richins-Benson.) The state has no further arguments on the first motion to suppress. Sidebar called. Moving into motion to suppress the "Walk the Dog" letter found in Kouri's jail cell. 6th witness was Corrections Sergeant Braxton Ray-Barrett. He participated in the search of the cell after a medical episode she had. Videos of search being played. 7th witness was Sergeant Thomas who is the administrative sergeant of the jail. He was also involved in the cell searches. The State is recalling Detective O'Driscoll to the stand. For more info reference posts 362 to 364, 366 to 380, page 19, thread #3. Next juror questionnaire hearing on 2/3/25 @ 9:30am.

 

[Seattle1]

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR

Hybrid Virtual/In Person Hearing
There is no video link for this hearing available.

STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS

Case # 231500139
9:30 AM - 2/3/2025
COURTROOM B

Judge/Commissioner:
RICHARD MRAZIK
JUROR QUESTIONNAIRES
State Felony

Court Calendars - Utah Courts

 

[arielilane]

Mrazik did not rule from the bench Thursday. Richins returns to court for another hearing on Feb. 3.

Defense in Richins case wants evidence thrown out

Kouri Richins’ attorneys argue police violated her rights when they searched her home, phone

ksltv.com

1.24.2025

 

[imstilla.grandma]

An original draft of the questionnaire the judge provided was rejected by the defense, who took issue with a specific question. After about a half-hour, the proceedings were wrapped up for the day and continued to Feb. 21

Mrazik on Monday said he hoped the state supreme court's decision on the matter will be issued before parties reconvene on Feb. 21 to resume the questionnaire process.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin April 24, and the trial will begin on April 28

Court deciding on questionnaire for potential jurors in Kouri Richins' murder trial

Kouri Richins' defense, along with state prosecutors, are in court to decide what will be asked of potential jurors on the written questionnaire

kjzz.com

 

[arielilane]

An original draft of the questionnaire the judge provided was rejected by the defense, who took issue with a specific question. After about a half-hour, the proceedings were wrapped up for the day and continued to Feb. 21.

Court deciding on questionnaire for potential jurors in Kouri Richins' murder trial

Kouri Richins' defense, along with state prosecutors, are in court to decide what will be asked of potential jurors on the written questionnaire

kutv.com

2/3/2025

 

[arielilane]

PARK CITY — Preparations are moving already in Kouri Richins’ upcoming murder trial as Utah’s 3rd District Court decides how it will select jurors in the now-high-profile case.

Court concerned about jury questions in Kouri Richins case

Kouri Richins' murder case will soon select a jury. But many Utahns have already heard of her case, which creates concerns of the court.

ksltv.com

2.3.2025

Court concerned about jury questions in Kouri Richins case​

Kouri Richins' murder case will soon select a jury. But many Utahns have already heard of her case, which creates concerns of the court.

 

[tlcya]

“We’re about two and a half months away from jury selection,” Mrazik said. “I feel some compulsion to get the process moving.”
[snip] The jury questions will be addressed again on Feb. 21.

jury selection starts on April 21.
Court concerned about jury questions in Kouri Richins case

One thing being discussed will be that the jury questions, rather than being yes or no, they will ask jurors to answer on a scale of 1 to 5.

 

[Seattle1]

“We’re about two and a half months away from jury selection,” Mrazik said. “I feel some compulsion to get the process moving.”
[snip] The jury questions will be addressed again on Feb. 21.

jury selection starts on April 21.
Court concerned about jury questions in Kouri Richins case

One thing being discussed will be that the jury questions, rather than being yes or no, they will ask jurors to answer on a scale of 1 to 5.

I just completed a 100 questionnaire (Juror) over the weekend and for every 'yes' response, an explanation was requested! IMO, the scale of 1 to 5 would have been easier and quicker!

 

[Justice101]

I just completed a 100 questionnaire (Juror) over the weekend and for every 'yes' response, an explanation was requested! IMO, the scale of 1 to 5 would have been easier and quicker!

I hope the questions were reasonable. Like " If you have heard of the case, have you formed an opinion if she is innocent or guilty?" The correct answer is "No". The HONEST answer for most would be "Yes"

I just hope we don't get jury of people who have no clue what is going on around them.

This is USUALLY not the case. Fingers crossed the jury is good.

 

[arielilane]

Prosecutors in Summit County are calling a request from Kouri Richins’ attorneys to reopen the questioning of witnesses before moving on in the murder case “a cheap litigation trick.”


The next hearing in Richins' case is scheduled for Feb. 21, and attorneys plan at that hearing to go over questionnaires that will be sent to potential jurors for her murder trial scheduled in April.

‘Poppycock’: Prosecutors contest claim from Kouri Richins of problems in detective’s testimony

Prosecutors oppose reopening witness questioning in Kouri Richins’ murder case, set to begin in April.

www.deseret.com

2/12/2025

Richins is also charged with two counts of mortgage fraud, a second-degree felony, and two additional counts of forgery, a third-degree felony. Those charges will be addressed in a separate trial.