Utah Supreme Court declines to consider appeal in Kouri Richins' murder case
The Utah Supreme Court issued its decision Friday after reviewing Richins' request for an appeal of Judge Richard Mrazik's decision to keep her jury in Summit County rather than move it to Salt Lake County and prosecutors' response.
In the short document, it cited rule 5 of Utah's appellate court procedure which says it should only grant an interlocutory appeal, or an appeal of a decision that is not the final outcome of the case, if the order being appealed involves 'substantial rights' and may have a large impact on the final decision in a case.
Richins, a Kamas mother and real estate agent, is charged with fatally poisoning her husband. She was arrested a year after his death, and in that year published a children's book featuring their children dealing with grief.
Deputy Summit County attorney Margaret Olsen filed a request to set a hearing where a new trial can be scheduled along with other case deadlines later on Friday. Richins' attorneys had not yet responded on Tuesday.
Mrazik denied the request to move the trial to Salt Lake County weeks before it was scheduled to start in Summit County, but granted the request to delay the trial while Richins' attorneys filed the appeal.
He reviewed motions and heard arguments about multiple community surveys and media coverage when considering whether Richins could have a fair trial with a Summit County jury. Ultimately, he determined a fair jury could be found in Summit County.
He said much of the media attention was from Salt Lake County outlets, both Kouri Richins and her husband grew up outside of Summit County and the population of Summit County is not homogenous.
Richins, 35, is charged with murder in the March 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins, who was 39. She was later charged with attempting to murder him weeks earlier on Valentine's Day.
She was ordered to stand trial on the charges of aggravated murder and attempted murder, both first-degree felonies; two counts of distributing a controlled substance, two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of filing a fraudulent insurance claim, all second-degree felonies; and three counts of forgery, a third-degree felony.
Richins will face a separate trial for two counts of mortgage fraud, a second-degree felony, and two additional counts of forgery, a third-degree felony.
This story may be updated.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Miami Herald
Is father facing death penalty for heinous child murder competent to stand trial?
A man accused of committing one of the most heinous acts of child abuse in South Florida in recent memory was in court for the first time in over a year Tuesday, as forensic psychologists dueled over his competency. In March of last year Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson determined that Jorge Barahona was delusional and incompetent to stand trial and ordered him moved from jail oversight — where he'd been for 13 years — to the state's Department of Children & Families. Now, 16 months later and after Barahona spent a year at a mental health facility on the Treasure Coast, Wolfson is undertaking the same task — but with testimony from more mental health experts in a hearing that is expected to end later this week. At Tuesday's hearing, Barahona, 58, sat next to defense attorney Carmen Vizcaino in the jury box. Looking little like the broad shouldered, curly-haired imposing figure that first took the witness stand 14 years ago, Barahona was dressed in a red jumpsuit signifying he was of high-risk. Barahona had already been severely beaten by five inmates while he was asleep at the county's Pre-Trial Detention Center in 2021. Now, his hair is thinned, long and stringy and he's lost significant weight. During the hearing, the defendant's hands were cuffed and tied to a chain around his waist, though he seemed at ease, chatting with Vizcaino and looking around the courtroom. He didn't utter a word during the proceeding. Barahona, 58, has been shuttled between Miami-Dade jail and mental health facilities since Valentine's Day 2011, when police found the body of his adopted 10-year-old daughter Nubia Barahona wrapped in a plastic covered with chemicals and decomposing in the bed of a pick-up truck on the side of I-95 in West Palm Beach. Her twin brother Victor — who miraculously survived — was in the truck's cab suffering seizures from chemical burns. Next to him at the wheel of the vehicle was Jorge Barahona, who was also suffering from chemical burns. Investigators soon determined that the twins had been beaten and tortured in the family's Westchester home and said they were starved and tied up in the bathtub for long periods of time with the door locked. Barahona and his wife Carmen Barahona were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and several counts of aggravated child neglect. Carmen, 74, accepted a life settlement in 2020 in exchange for her testimony. Her husband — should he ever go to trial — is facing the death penalty. Trial was delayed for years as the state's child welfare agency dealt with the fallout and attorneys took hundreds of depositions. Victor, who was last know to be living with relatives in Texas, was awarded $3.75 million by Florida state legislators in 2017. Carmen then took her plea as COVID hit. Dueling psychologists have opposing perceptions of Barahona On Tuesday, a pair of clinical psychologists took the witness stand as defense attorneys and prosecutors argued as to whether Jorge Barahona could stand trial. First up for the defense was clinical and forensic psychologist Jennifer Rohrer, who has spent several hours and several sessions with Barahona since September 2023. Though she found him always 'pleasant and co-operative,' she also said he provided 'delusional and psychotic-based answers.' Rohrer said it was her opinion that Barahona wasn't mentally fit to stand trial. 'He's unwilling and unable to accept that he may be incorrect,' she said. He believes 'he is innocent and this has been a conspiracy by multiple law enforcement agencies and his attorneys and the media.' Next up was state witness Lina Haji, a forensic psychologist who evaluates police officers looking for work in the Florida Keys. She said Barahona was competent to stand trial and said in the three hours over two years that she evaluated Barahona she found no sign of mental illness and said that he's never taken psychotropic drugs. Haji said she was convinced Barahona would act properly in a courtroom, that he would understand the arguments on both sides and that he could help his defense team. 'He's capable of testifying truthfully,' Haji said. 'He conveyed that to me in an organized manner.' Testimony is expected to resume Wednesday before Judge Wolfson.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Brad Pitt's Home Burglarized After Thieves Enter Through Front Window and Ransack His Property, Police Say
Brad Pitt's home in Los Angeles was allegedly burglarized by three suspects on Wednesday, June 25 The home is located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles Pitt was most recently seen attending the European premiere of F1: The MovieBrad Pitt's home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles has allegedly been burglarized. The alleged burglary occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE. The suspects "broke into the residence via the front window, ransacked the location, then fled the location with miscellaneous property," police said. All three suspects are yet to be publicly identified. Pitt, 61, was not in the home at the time of the alleged burglary. A rep for Pitt had no comment. The burglary comes amid a string of celebrity home invasions in Los Angeles in 2025. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's Los Angeles home was burglarized on Valentine's Day. Police sources told NBC News, ABC News and TMZ at the time that the burglars allegedly smashed a glass door or window to break in before ransacking the home and fleeing. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's Los Angeles home was also burglarized last year on Aug. 5, 2024, per ABC 7. The invasion of Pitt's home comes while the actor has been on an international press tour for F1: The Movie. The actor was most recently seen at the film's European premiere in London's Leicester Square on Monday, June 23. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Director Joseph Kosinksi recently told PEOPLE exclusively that he and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton were "really impressed" with the actor's driving skills on set. In the film, Pitt plays fictional Formula One racing driver Sonny Hayes, who previously left Formula One after a traumatizing accident. The film, which also stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem, hits theaters Friday, June 27. Read the original article on People
Los Angeles Times
27-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Brad Pitt's L.A. home torn up by burglars while he attends ‘F1' premiere
Thieves broke into a Los Angeles home owned by Brad Pitt on Wednesday and ransacked the actor's abode while he was out of town, according to law enforcement sources. Los Angeles police officials said a break-in at a home occurred around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. At least three suspects scaled the security fence at Pitt's Los Feliz-area house and smashed a window before entering, making 'a real mess' and stealing some items, according to sources not authorized to discuss the case. Pitt's possessions were tossed and overturned as the thieves 'had gone through looking for what they could take of value,' said one source familiar with the crime. Pitt is one of the latest celebrities to see their home burglarized. South American theft gangs have plagued upscale areas of L.A. in recent years. In early February, Olivier Giroud, the French striker who plays for Los Angeles FC, had his home targeted and $500,000 worth of jewelry and watches stolen, sources said. Then on Valentine's Day, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's home was burglarized. Pitt's midcentury modern home, dubbed the Steel House, is one of several owned by the movie star. He was in London on Monday night for the European premiere of 'F1: The Movie.' Last August, the FBI, working with local police, dismantled a multimillion-dollar crime tourism ring that had operated for years in Southern California, facilitating thefts across the country. Their investigation led them to a most unusual hub: a Los Angeles car rental business. The group directed crime tourists who committed hundreds of thefts across the nation — including in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties — beginning around 2018. The thefts occurred in about 80 cities in California, Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey, Kansas and Illinois and netted about $5.5 million for those charged in the case, according to the indictment. Prosecutors, however, estimated the loss to businesses and homeowners at about $35 million. The trend of South American crime groups visiting Southern California for thefts and robberies emerged roughly six years ago, and authorities have been grappling to get it under control.
