Kuori Richins defense seeks trial relocation to Salt Lake County

Richins looks on during a court appearance on May 15, 2024. Richins, is acccused of fatally poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Photo: Rick Bowmer | AP

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Attorneys representing Kouri Richins, the Utah mother accused of killing her husband with fentanyl in March 2022, have filed a motion requesting her trial be moved from Summit County to Salt Lake County.

Richins, who gained national attention after publishing a children’s book about coping with grief following her husband’s death, was arrested in May 2023 and charged with aggravated murder and attempted criminal homicide in connection with the death of her husband, Eric Richins.

Constitutional Concerns

According to an article in KSL, court documents filed Monday, March 17, Richins’ defense team cited Rule 29 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, and Article I section 12 of the Utah State Constitution as grounds for relocating the trial.

“Her protection to a fair and impartial jury is infringed without a change of venue,” the motion reads. “A fair and impartial jury cannot be found in Summit County because of the extensive publicity that is ongoing and inflammatory.”

Media Coverage Concerns

According to Richins’ legal team, pervasive news coverage has compromised her ability to get an unbiased trial in Summit County. The defense cites over 140 articles from local news outlets as evidence of what they characterize as efforts to portray Richins in a negative light.

Community Size and Recognition

Defense attorneys emphasized that Summit County’s small population—approximately 42,000 residents—makes it practically impossible to find impartial jurors. They referenced a study by a defense expert that found nearly 80% of Summit County residents recognized the case, compared to only 42.5% in Salt Lake County.

The motion also asserts that the Richins family’s local prominence contributes to possinle bias among potential jurors.

Previous Jury Selection Attempts

This is not the first attempt by Richins’ legal team to address jury selection issues. Previously, her lawyers sought to expand the search for jurors to include both Summit and Salt Lake counties, but that request was denied.

Next Steps

The state has 14 days to respond to the motion, after which the judge will issue a ruling. Richins’ trial is currently scheduled for April 28.