Kouri Richins appointed new counsel as defense attorney exits case
PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Kouri Richins — the Kamas mother and author accused of poisoning her husband to death with fentanyl — appeared in court for the first time Friday since her defense team requested to withdraw from the case regarding an “irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation.”
In the hearing, Judge Richard Mrazik officially granted lead defense attorney Skye Lazaro her request to withdraw. He also appointed Wendy Lewis and Kathryn Nester of Nester Lewis PLLC to be Richin’s new defense counsel.
Who are Wendy Lewis and Kathryn Nester?
According to the law firm’s website, Lewis and Nester started practicing law together in 2022 after years of courtroom experience in other areas. Lewis graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1991 and began working as a clerk in Denver. She returned to Utah in 1992 and practiced law at a private law firm, handling both criminal and civil cases.
Lewis highlighted her work in successfully defending one man from a first-degree murder conviction and another case where the defendant was spared the death penalty. She has been an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Utah since 2021, working on cases such as the case of Brian David Mitchell.
Her partner, Kathryn Nester, graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and has been practicing law since 1992. She went into private practice defending individuals charged with federal and state crimes in Mississippi, according to her biography. She has since worked a public defender for both in Mississippi and Utah.
Nester’s biography highlights her work as head of the office, handling a caseload of a capital murder case, a capital habeas case, and several high-profile fraud cases and sex offenses.
What’s next?
To give the new defense time to get acquainted with the case, Mrazik canceled the preliminary hearing originally scheduled for June 18.
State prosecutors, Richins and her new defense team are scheduled to meet again in person before Mrazik on June 21. During that hearing, Mrazik will consider two motions: The first is a motion to disqualify state prosecutors from the case. The second, a motion to suppress the now-infamous “Walk the Dog” letter.
Richins could face 25 years to life in Utah State Prison if the case is brought to trial and she is convicted.
For everything relating to the Kouri Richins murder trial, visit ABC4’s page dedicated to the case here.
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