By IVY BROWN and LAUREN SILVER
SALT LAKE CITY (Court TV) — Accused murderer Kouri Richins will not benefit from her late husband’s business’ life insurance policy, a court ruled Thursday according to KPCW.
Previously, Kouri filed a lawsuit against Eric Richins’ estate, which includes his sister Katie Richins-Benson. The lawsuit argued Kouri had been kept from property that is legally hers, following Eric’s death.
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband then wrote a children’s book about grieving, looks on during a bail hearing Monday, June 12, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
Kouri is facing multiple charges, including criminal homicide in the 2022 death of Eric. Investigators say she killed Eric with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Following his death, she wrote a children’s book about grief.
In the lawsuit, Kouri claimed ownership of their family home and half of Eric’s business, C&E Stone Masonry, LLC. A prenuptial agreement stated Kouri had no right or claim in the business unless Eric pre-deceased her, in which case his ownership stake would pass to her.
Prior to his death, Eric had expressed suspicion that Kouri was trying to harm him and assigned his business interest to a living trust. Eric’s sister sold half of the business to his work partner for $2M, which Kouri argued should’ve been paid to her.
According to KPCW, attorneys were in court Thursday to argue who would control Eric’s ownership in C&E Stone Masonry. Kouri’s attorneys argued their prenuptial agreement outweighed the living trust and Eric legally couldn’t assign his business interest to the trust.
A judge denied both arguments in partial summary judgments.
KTVX reports the judge said all motions in question would be put on hold until Kouri’s criminal trial is over.
