Children’s book author defense attorneys Kouri Richins – who has been accused of murdering her husband – claimed that state investigators have harassed and intimidated potential witnesses.
Richins’ attorneys filed a motion on Sunday, Jan. 25, seeking the release of all texts and communications exchanged between the prosecution team and witnesses in the case, according to reports. ON THE TV.
“Last week, the defense team received a tip from one of the State’s witnesses… that she was being harassed by an investigator working with the prosecution and was asking us if we could do anything to protect her from them,” the document states, according to the medium.
Attorneys claimed the witness shared text messages she exchanged with the lead detective Jeff O’Driscollin which the policeman threatened him with an arrest warrant.
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“Make your life easier and answer our calls so we can prepare you for what they’re going to ask of you. Otherwise, the next time I knock on your door, I’ll have a warrant and a catch stick for the dog,” O’Driscoll allegedly said in the texts, according to the documents.
Defense attorneys argued the conversation was “blatant witness intimidation.” Prosecutors also allegedly said they did not think O’Driscoll acted improperly in the exchange.
A second witness also claimed for the defense that they were harassed by the investigator Travis Hopper.
According to text messages allegedly exchanged with Hopper, the investigator asked the witness to cooperate. After the witness referred him to his original statement, the witness told Hopper that he could submit any additional questions in writing.
“Investigator Hopper then threatened to withdraw the prior immunity granted to this witness and subject him to prosecution if he did not agree to come and discuss his testimony in person with the prosecution team,” the defense stated.
Defense attorneys argued that Utah Code prohibits threatening witnesses with harm, which includes “physical, emotional or financial injury or harm.” They added that threatening to arrest someone for not testifying before trial “would be sufficient as ‘damage’.”
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In addition, the lawyers said prosecutors violated the rights of victims and witnesses with the way they conducted the questioning.
“The defense is asking the Court to compel the prosecution to disclose all text messages, voicemails, emails of recorded calls or any other digital messages with witnesses,” their petition stated.
Prosecutors have not publicly responded to the filing and told KUTV they will discuss the matter privately with the court. “We will answer in a non-public way with the Court, how this next jury selection process is appropriate,” Atty. Margaret Olson he said, by the dam.
Richins, 35, has been accused of fatally poisoning her husband. Eric Richinsby spiking her drink with fentanyl in March 2022. She also faces multiple counts of forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud for alleged actions she took before and after her husband’s death.
He became a local celebrity when he published a children’s book called are you with mewhich detailed her grieving process after her husband’s death.
Richins’ trial is scheduled to begin in February. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, they said ABC News.