GUILTY UT - Kouri Richins, 33, Author, wife, mom, charged in husband’s unexpected death last year, 8 May 2023 #3

[otto]

Another crazy moment was Nestor asking about whether KR called the witness. He said she did and he immediately told her he can not ethically talk to her without her attorney present.

Nestor pushed and says but she called you to give you her side. He says nope she called because she was angry that I talked to one of her business associates.

Nestor pushed again and says but you never actually did an interview with her to get her side.

Witness says he can’t do that ethically without her atty present because she’s a litigant in a civil case against his client but he made several requests to do an interview and was denied.

Wasn’t Nestor or Lewis yelling at a LE witness last week for talking to Kouri without her atty present??

That was susprising. It's as though the defence lawyer has half the story, runs with it, gets lost in the middle, shoots for another angle, and finishes deflated.

True, the same defence lawyer seems to believe that police should have put crime scene tape around the bedroom, or the house, and should not have spoken to the grieving widow until she had a lawyer.

 

[otto]

The argument about crime scene tape is odd. Eric was poisoned in his house around 9 pm. No one beyond family was in the house. Evidence of all family members is already throughout the house unrelated to the death. Since the only possible suspect had 15 minutes between discovering the body (allegedly) and phoning 911, she had ample time to stage the scene. Crime scene tape is pointless.

It was interesting that Kouri said on the 911 call that she last spoke to Eric at 9 pm, and that coincides with the time that he was most likely poisoned. She knew the time instantly, didn't have to think about it for a few minutes while she's overcome with grief. If she was innocent, shouldn't her mind be racing to pinpoint when she last time she spoke to him - not when she gave him the drink, and whether she heard anything during the night?

 

[MassGuy]

Todd Gabler is the best witness so far! Impressive. Defense had made this guy out to be some renegade running around trying to frame KR.

What a self-own today by defense!

Eric and Bryce joking is evidence of an affair???? Is defense serious?? Listening to that part now. Defense is desperate.

He was such a pain in the ass for the defense, and I loved every second of it. Abrasive at times, condescending, answering in a way that blunted the impact of the question. He's my spirit animal.

 

[Weki]

That was susprising. It's as though the defence lawyer has half the story, runs with it, gets lost in the middle, shoots for another angle, and finishes deflated.

True, the same defence lawyer seems to believe that police should have put crime scene tape around the bedroom, or the house, and should not have spoken to the grieving widow until she had a lawyer.

Not to keep harping on the same topic but this is again part of this lazy strategy of continuous temper tantrums. It’s wearying. These defense attys have decided that you’re trying the case for the appeals court not for a jury of 12 regular people. It’s all about padding the record with as many “errors” as they can argue later.

They’ve given up on persuading jurors. That’s hard work. They don’t seem to care about alienating the jury by either making them wait while they argue “for the record” or taking one tack this week and reversing next week.

Only something like 2 percent of cases are overturned, I believe. It’s a verrry low percentage. These type of defense lawyers are undertakers. It’s a frightening display. The defendant is too dumb to understand this is a concession not a fight.

JMO

 

[Luna20]

He was such a pain in the ass for the defense, and I loved every second of it. Abrasive at times, condescending, answering in a way that blunted the impact of the question. He's my spirit animal.

He is the only one so far that has been able to rattle Nester. She has gotten away with intentional intimidation and bullying of several witnesses.

 

[ttjo]

He is the only one so far that has been able to rattle Nester. She has gotten away with intentional intimidation and bullying of several witnesses.

How did you like when she told the judge ( about Erics business partner) “ i am going to impeach him , and I want to do it in front of the jury” So proud of herself like it was a gotcha moment.
Calm down, she thinks she is Hulk, from Dog Dynasty.

 

[ab01]

He was such a pain in the ass for the defense, and I loved every second of it. Abrasive at times, condescending, answering in a way that blunted the impact of the question. He's my spirit animal.

The look on his face said are you frickin serious?!?

 

[Luna20]

How did you like when she old the judge ( about Erics business partner) “ i am going to impeach him , and I want to do it in front of the jury” So proud of herself like it was a gotcha moment.
Calm down, she thinks she is Hulk, from Dog Dynasty.

Like Mother Superior at a strict Catholic grade school. She attempted to flatten Cody but he survived.

 

[Kemug]

So the Defence wants to prove that Eric and Bryce were having an affair? And so? So Kouri did have a motive to murder Eric - so there! I rest my case, says Nester!

 

[Seattle1]

3/9/26

COURTROOM INSIDER | Business partner, drugs, sext messages(?) and fiery testimony from P.I.​

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 10th:
*Trial continues (Day 11) (@ 8:30am [for attorneys] @ 9:30am [for jury] MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned [allegedly] with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on March. 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 1 count of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 1 count of attempted aggravated murder, 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 (2/20/26).
*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 & ended on 2/11/26. Jury consists of 8 jurors [2 women & 6 men] & 4 alternates [4 women].
Murder Trial began on 2/23/26 [thru 3/26/26]. Court in session from Mondays to Thursdays.
Third District Court Summit County Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Lindsay Chervenask, Fred Burmester & Summit County Deputy Attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis & Alex Ramos.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 2/2/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (2/10-2/11//26) & thru 2/18/26 r& Trial Day 1-9 (2/23-3/5/26; no court on 3/6/26) reference post #3169 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ed-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-159
3/9/26 Monday, Trial Day 10: *Defense offering two motions for mistrial. First written motion [submitted motion giglio violation], I think over someone saying KR was in jail. Judge Mrazik says the state needs to respond and asks when they can have it ready. Bloodworth says prosecution can respond right now orally. Mrazik wants it in writing. Bloodworth says he can have a written motion by tomorrow morning. Second motion for mistrial was a sidebar on Friday. KR herself said (in the recorded jail call played on Friday for the jury) that she was facing additional charges. The judge reminded the Defense that he had then admonished the jury that those were civil charges AND that the jury can not consider them. No "she did that so she must be guilty." The Defense withdrew that motion.
*Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth admits a 35 second video from March 5, 2022; showing Kouri Richins, Chelsea Barney, Bryce Knudsen at a celebration of life gathering. Prosecutor played Video of the celebration after ER's death.
*State witnesses: Cody Wright (business partice of Eric's with C&E Masonry). George Matthew Throckmorton, worked Crime Scene technician. [He is a forensic document examination/handwriting expert]. Prosecution plans to admit the 911 call before the next witness. No objection from the defense.
*State witnesses: Det. Jayme Woody, Summit County Sheriff's Office. [was the lead detective on the Eric Richins investigation; Detective Woody handed off the 'lead' role in the case to Detective Jeff O'Driscoll (who is seated with the prosecution). Detective Woody became a K9 handler & is now Deputy Jayme Woody]. Todd Gabler [a private investigator for Richins' family; has digital forensics expertise].
Jury does not need to report until 9:30am because the judge and attorneys need to take care of some legal matters beforehand at 8:30am.
Trial continues on Tuesday, 3/10/26.

 

[Serononin]

Listening to testimony while waiting to do a quick live hit on TV.

Gabler tells Nester about a safe he had broken into.

“I don’t need law enforcement to babysit me.” Gabler said.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031130998138605988

I don't know why, "I think it was a rubber mallet" is so funny to me, but it really is

 

[Megnut]

The defence was put in her place by the private investigator, who repeatedly told the defence lawyer that her more-or-less slang description of events was not at all how he would characterize facts.

Suggestions that the private investigator illegally removed a computer from the house was a theatrical courtroom production that proved the private investigator brought his laptop to the house and removed it when he left. It was another desperate attempts by the defence to incorrectly portray the facts and mislead the jury.

It's their (ineffective) strategy as a whole.

LE should have known it was a crime scene and preserved it.

But also there was no crime.

LE didn't mirandize KR, who wasn't a POI.

The private investigator should have listened to KR's "side of the story" without her attorney present.

LR couldn't remember the name of her cleaning lady... because she has more than one.

KR didn't get fentanyl or any drugs through CL through RC, both of whom have access to and a history with drugs, never mind the digital record.

Then this fabrication of an illicit relationship between Bryce and ER whose text history shows they were like frat brothers.

It's all imploding.

ER is being revealed as successful, prudent, likable, liked, and a phenomenal dad.

Who was murdered by his wife for money.

JMO

 

[Justice101]

Who was murdered by his wife for money.

Plain and simple.

A tale as old as time.

 

[scaredtopost]

I'm a straggler to this case, so please excuse me if these things have been discussed. I was watching opening statements last night and heard the defense claim they plan to be quick and succinct (paraphrasing). Someone might want to tell them that objecting and requesting side bars several times during every witness is pretty much the opposite of that. I believe the prosecution is strategically objecting only when necessary to starkly contrast the defense. I was also struck that the defense played the 911 call during their opening statement. As someone who has called 911 and had to perform CPR on a loved one, I did not feel Kouri had any interest in trying to save her husband. JMO, MOO, etc.

 

[browneyes]

The look on his face said are you frickin serious?!?

His facial expressions were everything…especially while Nester was panicking and unprepared. I loved it.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

So the Defence wants to prove that Eric and Bryce were having an affair? And so? So Kouri did have a motive to murder Eric - so there! I rest my case, says Nester!

Exactly. Seems like they are bolstering the motive for KR by insinuating her husband was having an affair with his friend.

 

[Megnut]

I'm a straggler to this case, so please excuse me if these things have been discussed. I was watching opening statements last night and heard the defense claim they plan to be quick and succinct (paraphrasing). Someone might want to tell them that objecting and requesting side bars several times during every witness is pretty much the opposite of that. I believe the prosecution is strategically objecting only when necessary to starkly contrast the defense. I was also struck that the defense played the 911 call during their opening statement. As someone who has called 911 and had to perform CPR on a loved one, I did not feel Kouri had any interest in trying to save her husband. JMO, MOO, etc.

While KR was clearly telling them he was beyond saving. He's cold. He's been dead a long time. Which of course only she could know.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Counsel is meeting with the judge outside the jury.

Defense wants to add a leading portion of a video of an interview with Detective Driscoll's.

The State's response: is peppered with the defendant's self-serving remarks.

Ha.

Sums her up.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

If I were a seasoned defense attorney, I don't think I would want to say this to the Court: I can't remember if I learned that during the trial/testimony or in my preparing for trial.

JMO