Episode Details

Opening statements are done. The Kouri Richins murder trial is underway in Summit County. Criminal defense attorney Bob Motta joins us live to break down what we learned from week one and where this five-week trial is heading.

Prosecutors painted Kouri as a calculated killer who poisoned her husband Eric with fentanyl for nearly $2 million in life insurance money. The defense promised to show the case is built on compromised witnesses and circumstantial evidence. Bob analyzes where those competing narratives will collide—and where the defense has the best opportunity to create doubt.

The prosecution's key witness is Carmen Lauber—the housekeeper who claims she sold Kouri fentanyl. She's been granted immunity. Her supplier, Robert Crozier, has recanted and now says whatever he sold wasn't fentanyl. No pills were ever recovered or tested. Bob explains how a defense attorney would approach cross-examining a witness whose credibility has already been undermined.

The 15-minute gap before Kouri called 911 is central to the state's theory. Her phone was unlocked six times during those minutes. First responders noted Eric "seemed like he had been dead a while." Bob walks through how the defense will try to explain that gap—and whether the explanation holds up.

Two of Eric's friends will testify that eighteen days before his death, he called them and said "I think my wife tried to poison me." That statement is devastating for the defense. Bob explains the best strategy for neutralizing secondhand testimony.

With over 1,000 exhibits and a hard deadline from Judge Mrazik, the defense says this case won't finish on time. Bob explains whether timeline pressure helps or hurts the prosecution.

Join us live for real-time trial analysis from a defense attorney who knows how cases are won and lost.

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