Utah judge to decide if author of children’s book on grief will face trial in her husband’s death

Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A Utah female who authorities opportunity fatally poisoned her hubby past published a children’s book astir coping pinch condolences is group to look successful tribunal Monday for nan commencement of a multiday proceeding that will find whether prosecutors person capable grounds against her to proceed pinch a trial.

Kouri Richins, 34, faces respective felony charges for allegedly sidesplitting her hubby pinch a lethal dose of fentanyl successful March 2022 astatine their location successful a mini upland municipality adjacent Park City. Prosecutors opportunity she slipped 5 times nan lethal dose of nan synthetic opioid into a Moscow mule cocktail that Eric Richins, 39, drank.

Additional charges revenge successful March impeach her of an earlier effort to termination him pinch a spiked sandwich connected Valentine’s Day. She has been adamant successful maintaining her innocence.

Utah authorities Judge Richard Mrazik had delayed nan proceeding successful May aft prosecutors said they would request 3 consecutive days to coming their evidence. The lawsuit was further slowed erstwhile Kouri Richins’ squad of backstage attorneys withdrew from representing her. Mrazik wished she was incapable to proceed paying for backstage representation, and he appointed nationalist defenders Wendy Lewis and Kathy Nester to return complete her case.

In nan months starring up to her apprehension successful May 2023, nan mother of 3 self-published nan children’s book “Are You pinch Me?” astir a begetter pinch angel wings watching complete his young boy aft passing away. The book could play a cardinal domiciled for prosecutors successful framing Eric Richins’ decease arsenic a calculated sidesplitting pinch an elaborate cover-up attempt. Prosecutors person accused Kouri Richins of making concealed financial arrangements and buying nan forbidden supplier arsenic her hubby began to harbor suspicions astir her.

Both nan defense and prosecution scheme to telephone connected witnesses and present grounds to thief style their narratives successful nan case. Mrazik is expected to determine aft nan proceeding whether nan authorities has presented capable grounds to spell guardant pinch a trial.

Among nan witnesses who could beryllium called are relatives of nan suspect and her precocious husband, a housekeeper who claims to person sold Kouri Richins nan drugs, and friends of Eric Richins who person recounted telephone conversations from nan time prosecutors opportunity he was first poisoned by his woman of 9 years.

Kouri Richins’ erstwhile lead defense attorney, Skye Lazaro, had based on nan housekeeper had information to dishonesty arsenic she sought leniency successful nan look of supplier charges, and that Eric Richins’ sisters had a clear bias against her customer amid a conflict complete his property and a concurrent battle case.

A petition revenge by his sister, Katie Richins, alleges Kouri Richins had financial motives for sidesplitting her hubby arsenic prosecutors opportunity she had opened life security policies totaling astir $2 cardinal without his knowledge and mistakenly believed she would inherit his property nether position of their prenuptial agreement.

In May, Kouri Richins was recovered blameworthy connected misdemeanor charges of assaulting her different sister-in-law soon aft her husband’s death. Amy Richins told nan judge that Kouri Richins had punched her successful nan look during an statement complete entree to her brother’s safe.

In summation to aggravated murder, battle and supplier charges, Kouri Richins has been charged pinch owe fraud, forgery and security fraud for allegedly forging indebtedness applications and fraudulently claiming security benefits aft her husband’s death.