@meghannmcuniff: Prosecutors in Summit County, Utah, finished calling witnesses in their murder case against Kouri Richins this morning, so her lawyers asked the judge to enter a "directed verdict" in her favor. The request is standard in criminal and civil trials and involves the defense arguing that prosecutors or the plaintiff's lawyers have not presented enough evidence to justify jurors even considering the charges or claims and the judge should instead end this nonsense right now by entering a verdict in the defendant's favor or dismissing the charges. It rarely works, and it didn't today (Thursday, March 12, day 13) when Richins' young gun lawyer Alexander Ramos asked Judge Richard Mrazik to dismiss her charges. "When evaluating a motion for directed verdict, the court is not free to weigh the evidence and thus invade the province of the jury, whose prerogative it is to judge the facts," Judge Mrazik said. Rather, the court's role is to determine whether the state has produced believable evidence on each element of the crimes from which a jury, acting reasonably, could convict the defendant not will, not would, but could. Moreover, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the state," he continued. The judge said prosecutors "established a prima facie case against defendant, Kouri Richins, by producing believable evidence of each element of each crime charged in the operative information." "Defendant's motion for directed verdict is respectfully denied," he said. Prosecutors and the defense rested after Richins declined to testify, which you can watch here . Jurors will hearing closing arguments Monday morning. Attorneys and Judge Mrazik will finalize jury instructions tomorrow afternoon. Background: Kouri Richins, 35, is accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl at their home in Kamas, Utah, in March 2022. After he died, she self-published a children's book she authored titled "Are You With Me?" about coping with grief. Eric Richins, 39, was found dead in their home on March 4, 2022.Prosecutors allege Kouri dropped a lethal dose of fentanyl in a Moscow Mule cocktail she prepared for him. They say she was motivated by money because she owed nearly $5 million to lenders and had changed her husband's life insurance policies prior to his death while also taking out a home equity line of credit without his knowledge. She also was in a romantic relationship with another man. Her defense is that her husband died of a self-inflicted overdose and his family pressured police to implicate her. Prosecutors allege she previously tried to murder him by poisoning his sandwich on Valentine's Day 2022, which her husband told a friend about. #law #criminaldefense #crime #judge #attorney

leslieknope111 :

Can we hurry up and end this trial so the judge can move on to narrating romantasy audiobooks.

druha :

Can this judge handle all cases? It’s been a pleasure listening to him

You :

They are going to find her guilty. And then she’ll appeal saying she got bad attorneys. And she’ll be correct. But omg this is wild.

islandturtle22 :

As a law student I am eating this up, its lowkey helpful in understanding procedure 😂

Franklin D Rollsablunt :

The judge sounds like this

✨🪻The Lost Wildflower🪻✨ :

Respectfully DENIED

findro89 :

One of the biggest misconceptions in my 15 years of law is people think a "circumstantial case" is weaker than a "direct evidence case". Complete opposite actually. For example eye witness testimony is the most common form of "direct evidence" and is notoriously the most unreliable evidence and is often overturned on appeal.

CharKia :

Shhhh my man I mean judge is talking!

Pam Broussard :

This Judge has been so patient with both defense counsel. I think defendant is guilty but I could see a jury finding her not guilty

🔴 🆁🅴🅳 :

“……….is respectfully denied” — Siri, replay this until I fall asleep.

It's Always Sunny In Florida :

This judge explains things so well, I think I've learned more about the law and how the court works than any other case I'm ever watched. (and I love true crime, so I've watched a lot)

Ally Be :

I love this judge! His clear, concise communication and interpretation of law is refreshing and the command of his courtroom is a pleasure to watch.

wkennedy56 :

guilty

German Shep Australian Mommy :

I love this judge

Taylor Kelly :

Hes a great judge

American_pride_🇺🇸 :

I like this Judge

JackieTidwell :

Not will, not would , but Could omg why Could I listen to him says this 100 times 😁

Dan Burfield :

impartial, bro is Impartial,

taller pruett :

he explained it so well

5thGenRnnr_NCGirl :

sir....i object to you not reading me to sleep every night. 🥹🥹

NanasBananas :

I love this Judge. 🖤

Sade :

🌈 JenSmith 🌈 :

Guilty OR not guilty is solely because It’s all circumstantial. Literally no physical proof one way or the other. Going off of feelings doesn’t necessarily cause a conviction

C∆TM∆C :

Where’s the people in my comments section saying there’s zero evidence 😂

Joan Heinrich :

Love this judge