Nichole Rice trial

[Davey Crockett]

Did anyone watch yesterday ? It'll be interesting to see this plays out.

 

[NDbowman]

I've been watching bits of it at night to catch up. At first a guilty verdict didn't look likely but after the testimony of her aunt and uncle, I'd say a guilty verdict looks more likey. The fact she knew about the bowl of water in the sink, the screen being cut, and how Anita's body lay and was clothed, with no way of her knowing that unless she was there the night of the murder, sure doesn't look good for her.

It'll be good to finally get justice for Anita. I feel so bad for her parents and all they've had to go through and now to have this brought up all these years later.

 

[Fester]

Am i the only one that is trying to ignore it out of respect to the family? I get its interesting but i feel horrible for the family.

 

[Jiffy]

I have no idea who Nichole Rice is. Is she hot?

 

[ndlongshot]

no. As trump would say, shes a nasty woman.

 

[guywhofishes]

The Nichole Rice trial, as of the latest updates from the provided web search results, is a significant legal case concerning the 2007 murder of Anita Knutson in Minot, North Dakota. Here's a detailed breakdown of the trial and its context based on the available information:
Background of the Case

• Victim and Accused: Nichole Rice, now 37, is charged with felony murder in the death of her roommate, Anita Knutson, who was 18 at the time of her death. Knutson was found stabbed to death on June 4, 2007, in the apartment they shared in Minot, North Dakota.
• Incident Details: Knutson was discovered by her father, Gordon Knutson, after she failed to show up for work and did not respond to multiple calls. She had been stabbed twice in the chest. Friends and family noted a strained, "toxic" relationship between the two roommates, with Knutson reportedly expressing fear of Rice. For instance, Knutson’s adoptive mother, Sharon Knutson, testified that Anita had her father install a lock on her bedroom door due to her fear of Rice.
• Initial Investigation: At the time of the murder, Rice claimed she was at her family farm, but her statements to police were inconsistent. In interviews with investigators, Rice initially said she hadn’t seen Knutson on the Friday before the murder but later claimed to have seen her in the kitchen that night. She also mentioned hearing a male voice, later confirmed to be a friend of Knutson’s, at the apartment that evening. Despite being a person of interest, the case went cold for nearly 15 years due to a lack of sufficient evidence to make an arrest.

Developments Leading to the Trial

• Cold Case Breakthrough: The case gained renewed attention through media coverage, including a documentary series filmed in Minot. Investigators revisited years of case files and re-interviewed Rice. Her inconsistent alibi, combined with reviewed evidence, led to a judge signing an arrest warrant in March 2022. Rice was arrested while working as a civilian at Minot Air Force Base.
• Legal Proceedings: Rice pleaded not guilty and was released on a $250,000 bond. The case saw multiple hearings, including testimony from police and DNA experts, as well as motions to dismiss. Due to significant publicity in Ward County, both the prosecution and defense agreed that a fair and impartial jury would be difficult to assemble there. Consequently, Judge Richard Hagar approved a change of venue to Grand Forks County, with the trial initially rescheduled for January 6, 2025, though it appears to have started earlier based on updates from March 2025.

Trial Updates (March 2025)

• Motion to Dismiss Denied: On March 18, 2025, Judge Richard Hagar denied a last-minute defense motion to dismiss the murder charge against Rice. The motion was based on allegations of a "Brady violation" (failure to disclose exculpatory evidence) by the state, including a recording of an interview with Devin Hall, whom the defense proposed as an alternate suspect. The defense also raised concerns about a report on the conduct of Minot Police officers, including former officer Matthew McLeod and case agent Sgt. Carmen Asham, suggesting potential impacts on the investigation. However, the state clarified that McLeod was not involved in the Knutson investigation, and the judge ruled there was no suppression of evidence by the state.
• Opening Statements: The trial moved forward with opening statements on March 19, 2025, in Grand Forks. Deputy Ward County State’s Attorney Tiffany Sorgen argued that there was "bad blood" between Rice and Knutson, emphasizing the toxic nature of their relationship. Sorgen stated, “Nichole Thomas Rice stabbed Anita Knutson twice in the chest, killing her,” and promised that witness testimony would establish a timeline pointing to Rice as the perpetrator. In contrast, Rice’s attorney, Richard Sand, argued that the case was a “miscarriage of justice,” asserting that the evidence would show Rice did not commit the murder and that “people like Nichole don’t kill people over stuff like that.”
• Witness Testimony: The state’s first witnesses were Knutson’s adoptive parents, Sharon and Gordon Knutson. Sharon testified about Anita’s aspirations to become a teacher and her daily communication with her daughter, noting that Anita had expressed fear of Rice. Gordon testified about discovering Anita’s body in the apartment.
• Rice’s Statements: Sgt. Asham recounted Rice’s interviews from 2007. Rice initially claimed minimal contact with Knutson due to their differing schedules and described their relationship as friendly, downplaying any conflict as typical roommate disagreements. However, her shifting accounts—particularly about seeing Knutson on the Friday before the murder—raised suspicions.

Key Arguments

• Prosecution: The state argues that Rice murdered Knutson due to their toxic relationship, pointing to witness testimony about Knutson’s fear of Rice and Rice’s inconsistent statements as evidence of guilt. They aim to establish a timeline that places Rice at the scene of the crime.
• Defense: Rice’s defense contends that the charges are baseless and driven by media sensationalism rather than solid evidence. They argue that the state has failed to prove Rice’s involvement and have pointed to alternate suspects, such as Devin Hall, while criticizing the investigation’s integrity.

Current Status

• As of the latest update on March 25, 2025, the trial is ongoing in Grand Forks County. The court has heard opening statements, initial witness testimony, and is working through various procedural issues. The prosecution and defense have presented their closing arguments, with Tiffany Sorgen delivering the state’s closing and rebuttal, and Richard Sand presenting the defense’s closing. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues to draw significant attention due to its high-profile nature and the long delay in bringing the case to court.

Broader Context

• The case has been marked by challenges, including the passage of time (15 years between the murder and Rice’s arrest), the change of venue due to publicity, and allegations of investigative misconduct. Anita Knutson’s family has attended every hearing, seeking justice after 17 years. The trial’s outcome will likely have a lasting impact on the community and the families involved.

 

[Skeeter]

I have no idea who Nichole Rice is. Is she hot?

She looks like the north end of a south bound mule, Just as wide too.

 

[Vollmer]

I can’t tell if she’s guilty, or just has some sort of mental condition that makes her awful.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I can’t tell if she’s guilty, or just has some sort of mental condition that makes her awful.

Likely both

 

[Eatsleeptrap]

If I was a betting guy, my money would be on prison followed by hell.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Am i the only one that is trying to ignore it out of respect to the family? I get its interesting but i feel horrible for the family.

I can't wrap my head around that frame of thought . The knutson family has been waiting a long time for justice, I support that 100% and hope they live to see it. Don't expect me to respect your opinion on the verdict one way or the other if you have your head buried in the sand. Turning a blind eye to justice is just wrong.

 

[Fester]

I can't wrap my head around that frame of thought . The knutson family has been waiting a long time for justice, I support that 100% and hope they live to see it. Don't expect me to respect your opinion on the verdict one way or the other if you have your head buried in the sand. Turning a blind eye to justice is just wrong.

I think you may have took my comment wrong. I feel for the knutson family having to deal with this in the public.. Turning the news on and its all over it..on facebook etc.. i absolutly hope they get justice. i just cant imagine having a daughters murder constantly being brought up in the media...i just dont think its something i should be focusing on. I hope they get justice 100% but to me some things should be handled privatly to cause less stress for the victim and the family involved.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I think you may have took my comment wrong. I feel for the knutson family having to deal with this in the public.. Turning the news on and its all over it..on facebook etc.. i absolutly hope they get justice. i just cant imagine having a daughters murder constantly being brought up in the media...i just dont think its something i should be focusing on. I hope they get justice 100% but to me some things should be handled privatly to cause less stress for the victim and the family involved.

Thats your empathetic side. We know you are a human and not a narcissist at least but I can understand what you mean. Having to bury all the emotions and carry on with life for this long only to have them all opened up again like fresh wounds and feel everything again like it just happened ….. no one wants anyone to have to re-live any nightmare such as this…. But on the other hand I’d imagine they suspected that bitch for all these years and will finally be able to have some form of closure.

 

[Davey Crockett]

No different that the Apple river stabbing or Chad Isaac trial , we don't have control over cameras in the courtroom. I feel like it's our duty as citizens to watch and learn from the justice system incase we are ever called for jury duty.