Closing arguments are underway in the grief author murder trial, where Kouri Richins is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with Fentanyl in a Moscow Mule she made for him in 2022. Lead prosecutor, Brad Bloodworth, delivers his closing remarks on Monday after the defense rested its case on Friday, after not calling any witnesses to the stand, not even the defendant. 

Prosecution Delivers Closing Statement

Bloodworth began his closing arguments by stating the defendant’s state of mind at the time of her husband’s death. He said she felt grief her entire life, but wanted to appear as if she was privileged and successful. She was a taker, in his words. “She wanted the perfect life. Or, at least, the appearance of a perfect life,” said Bloodworth. 

While the couple shared a family, a home, and appeared stable from the outside, Bloodworth argued: “[Kouri] wanted to leave Eric but did not want to leave his money.” He claimed Kouri stole $250,000 to start her own business in hopes of earning enough money to leave him and start a new life with her affair partner.

Bloodworth urges jurors to look at the evidence presented in the case, not what the attorneys are saying. He went on to list many statements made by Kouri Richins’ defense that hold no value and have no evidence to back up their claims.

After Bloodworth concluded his closing argument, Richins’ defense requested a mistrial on several counts, including facial expressions of the defendant and “wild” speculation made by the state. The judge seemed hesitant, and defense attorney Kathryn Nester seemed ill prepared to make an argument for her claim and respond accordingly to the judge.

Trial Testimony

Kouri Richins is charged with aggravated murder and attempted criminal homicide in relation to the death of her husband, Eric, and several counts of financial crimes including fraudulent insurance claims, and forgery.

The jury has heard three weeks of testimony from the prosecution including family members, investigators, law enforcement, expert witnesses, forensic scientists, Kouri’s lover, and the Richins family former housekeeper, who testified to providing illicit drugs to Kouri on several occasions.  

Kouri allegedly confided in her friends just before her husband’s death that it would be better “if he were dead,” because of how unhappy she was in the relationship, and it would make it easier for her to leave. The prosecution consistently argued that her motive to murdering her husband was for money, love, and to live a better life, but without her husband.

The 35-year-old appearance author of “Are You With Me?”, a children’s book written by a ghostwriter and Richins advertised as a book to help her children cope with the loss of their father, pleaded not guilty to all charges. If she is convicted, she could face a life sentence.

Defense Rests

On Thursday, the state rested its case after lead investigator, Detective Jeff O’Driscoll finished his testimony. The judge denied a motion for directed verdicts on each of the counts and defense attempted to admit the interaction with David Norris, a man claiming Eric Richins asked him about Fentanyl, into evidence.

The judge warned against the defense proceeding with that attempt, as it would bring to light previously suppressed testimony. Prosecutors were prepared to refute Norris’ statement with another man who claims Kouri asked him about Fentanyl. Defense considered the consequences and declined to pursue it. 

After a failed attempt to call a witness and three weeks of minimal effort to defend Kouri Richins, aside from counterarguing the prosecution’s witnesses, the defense rested its case. They did not attempt to call any other fact or expert witnesses, even the defendant.