This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.
The decision to pause all proceedings in Kouri Richins’ murder case followed an hours-long hearing on whether to summon Salt Lake County jurors to Summit County for the trial.
April 7, 3rd District Judge Richard Mrazik ruled to keep the trial in Summit County, with Summit County jurors, despite defense attorneys’ concerns about impartiality.
Richins’ attorneys want to appeal the decision, so they asked Mrazik to delay the trial, which was set to begin April 28.
Summit County prosecutors didn’t oppose the motion.
Mrazik did take note that Richins is still in jail, and her attorneys said they’d ask the judge to consider granting her bail for a third time. He said he’s “disinclined” to do so after denying her twice.
Richins is the former Kamas real estate agent accused of fatally poisoning her husband Eric Richins in 2022. The mother of three would go on to write a children’s book about grieving him and was arrested in 2023 in connection with his death.
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