Attorneys for Kouri Richins request withdrawal from her case, citing ‘irreconcilable’ situation

Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, then wrote a children's book about grieving, looks on during a bail hearing, June 12, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Photo: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool, File

Kouri currently faces 11 charges, including aggravated murder in the March 2022 death of her husband Eric Richins

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Ray Quinney & Nebeker P.C., the law firm representing Kouri Richins, filed a motion on May 17 to withdraw its representation in her criminal trial.

According to the motion signed by Ray Quinney & Nebeker P.C. attorney Skye Lazaro, the withdrawal stems from an unspecified “irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation.”

“It first emerged from the civil cases in which the Firm has been representing Ms. Richins, but is imputed to the Firm as a whole and thus requires the Firm to withdraw from its representation of the Defendant in this criminal proceeding,” said the motion.

According to court documents, this issue emerged after Richins’ hearing on Thursday, May 15, when Judge Richard Mrazik was set to determine whether prosecutors had enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Mrazik ultimately delayed the hearing until June 18-20 after prosecutors said they would need three days to present their evidence against Richins.

A remote hearing on the motion will take place today, May 20, at 4 p.m.