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

[arielilane]

The jury selection in the murder trial for Kouri Richins has been opened to local media following a ruling on a recently filed motion.

Jury selection is anticipated to take two weeks as attorneys for Richins's defense and the state find a suitable panel of jurors from Summit County to weigh in on the case.

Jury selection in Richins murder trial opens to media following motion

The jury selection in the murder trial for Kouri Richins has been opened to the public following a motion filed by local media.Jury selection is anticipated to

kutv.com

2/10/2026


Honorable Judge Mrazik: a favorite judge of many of us here.

 

[arielilane]

• TOPICS:​

• KOURI RICHINS
• JURY SELECTION
• MURDER TRIAL
• SUMMIT COUNTY
• MEDIA ACCESS
• FENTANYL POISONING

Jury selection in Richins murder trial opens to media following motion

The jury selection in the murder trial for Kouri Richins has been opened to the public following a motion filed by local media.Jury selection is anticipated to

kutv.com

 

[arielilane]

Jury selection is scheduled to take five days, KUTV reported. Richins' trial is set to begin on Monday, February 23.

Richins' mother, Lisa Darden, told "48 Hours" that she is "a hundred percent" certain her daughter will be found innocent.

Jury selection begins for grief book author accused of poisoning husband

Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric by putting a fatal dose of fentanyl in his drink, leading to his sudden death in 2022.

www.aol.com

2/10/2026

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, February 11th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 2) (@ 8:30am 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 35) 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). Bond denied (11/18/25). DA will not seek DP (8/18/23).
*Charged (6/27/25) with 5 counts of mortgage fraud, 5 counts of forgery, 7 counts of issuing a bad check, 7 counts of money laundering, 1 count of communications fraud & 1 count of a pattern of unlawful activity. 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
Jury selection began on 2/10/26. [Jury Selection Days: 2/11/26, 2/12, 2/13, 2/17 & 2/18/26]. Jury will consist of 8 jurors & 4 alternates.
Jury instructions hearing on 2/19/26 @ 1pm.
Murder Trial set to begin on 2/23/26 [thru 3/26/26].
Third District Court Summit County Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis & Alex Ramos.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 2/2/26 reference post #628 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-32
2/10/26 Tuesday, Jury Selection Day 1: Judge Richard Mrazik ruled at 9 AM; media can observe jury selection unless a prospective juror asked for a closed session. If that’s the case, court will be cleared. Potential jurors are appearing virtually with the Judge, attorneys, Richins & media in the courtroom. Judge did follow up questioning from the juror questionnaire [a 23-page jury questionnaire containing 99 question]. 1700 jury surveys were returned - the prosecution & defense have called about 250 people to be questioned over the next five days. 25 prospective jurors interviewed in the morning session.. No news on the afternoon session. Jury selection continues on Wednesday, 2/11/26.

 

[arielilane]

Morning from a snowy, Summit County, Utah. It’s day 2 of jury selection in the Kouri Richins murder case.

Kouri is present in the courtroom. Defense and prosecution will begin with peremptory challenges to strike prospective jurors.

It’s very likely we’ll seat a jury today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021602876997660984

 

[arielilane]

Judge Mrazik asks both sides if they’re opposed to excusing the 8:30 AM block of jurors. Both agree.

They’ll come to a conclusion about excusing others at the end of peremptory challenges.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021602880705167504

 

[arielilane]

Defense went to a separate room to discuss their prospective juror strikes.

Kouri went with them; with a bailiff.

Prosecutors stayed put in the courtroom.

Now we wait.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021603749748166798

 

[arielilane]

Another reporter's perspective:

Day 2 JURY SELECTION - Kouri Richins Trial — jury selection was initially expected to span five days, but based on yesterday’s proceedings, a jury could be sat by end of day today.

Starting a few minutes late— a few people late to court, weather is picking up in Park City.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021601966917566814

 

[arielilane]

After years of national attention, the Kouri Richins murder case is moving into its next phase.

Richins is charged with murdering her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022. While the long-awaited trial is set to begin later this month, jury selection started Tuesday in Summit County and should wrap up Wednesday.

@brian_schnee will be live again tomorrow and through the duration of the trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021432302572560613

 

[arielilane]

Everyone is back in.

Prosecutors executed 5 of 6 strikes.

Defense is contesting one of the strikes based on a “batson challenge” specifying race; the only “non-white person on this panel”.

Judge Mrazik reminds the defense does not have to provide a reason for their strike. Defense is pleading their case that the juror should stay and not be removed.

“The fact that she’s a minority is not sufficient.” - Judge Mrazik

Prosecutors say the defense has not made a prima facie showing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021620137967988830

 

[arielilane]

Judge rules and does not see any discriminatory reason for the strike but asks prosecutors to provide one reason (to protect possible appeal in appellate court).

Prosecution says they had numerous concerns with the prospective juror, “none of them had to do with h** race.”

They cite education and job concern/stability with a five week trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021621250271908343

 

[arielilane]

Defense urges Judge Mrazik to set aside the strike and keep the prospective juror in question on the table.

Judge says the state has carried its burden of showing a facially race-neutral reasoning.

Judge asks defense to compare this specific juror to other jurors with specifics based on strikes.

Defense is comparing (I’m not going to share all the personal information based on employment info, etc).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021623110567657936

 

[arielilane]

@brian_schnee


Judge confirms the states peremptory strike.

Lots of conversation focused on if the prospective juror would be able to withstand a five-week trial based on their current employment.

Defense acknowledges that this was never asked of the prospective juror.

Defense’s Batson Challenge is denied. Defense has moved to a separate room to continue their case work on strikes.
@KUTV2News


11:51 AM · Feb 11, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@brian_schnee


#BREAKING: 12-person jury seated in the Kouri Richins case.

Judge Mrazik confirmed with both prosecutors and the defense counsel shortly after 10 AM today, day 2 of jury selection.

They will be present on February 23, 2026 at 8AM for the first day of the trial.

All eight selected as primary jurors were from the early morning group on Tuesday. The four alternates are from the afternoon groups.
@KUTV2News


12:26 PM · Feb 11, 2026

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021636907155738640