In opening statements, prosecutors say Colorado dentist fatally poisoned his wife due to financial troubles and affair

James Craig, the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife’s protein shakes, did so because of his growing financial troubles and his desire to romantically be with another woman, prosecutors said in opening statements of his murder trial Tuesday.

Prosecutor Ryan Brackley said the evidence will show Craig filled a pill with cyanide and made sure his wife, Angela, took it while she was in the hospital recovering from previous poisonings.

“He didn’t go into that room to save Angela’s life,” Brackley said. “He didn’t go into that room to fight for her life or support her. He went into that room to murder her, to deliberately and intentionally end her life with a fatal dose of cyanide.”

The defense is expected to deliver its opening statements shortly.

Craig, 47, of Aurora, has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence and solicitation to commit perjury. He is accused of killing his wife as well as plotting to kill four others, including the lead detective investigating her death.

Craig’s wife, Angela, died on March 18, 2023, after being admitted to local hospitals three times in 10 days. She was 43 years old, and the couple had six children.

Fifteen jurors – 12 primary and three alternates – were seated following about six hours of questioning Monday.