James Richards was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1959 but now resides on Queensland's Gold Coast. He was a former Security Consultant, personally training police officers and private bodyguards in unarmed combat. In semi-retirement, he now instructs exclusive clients in personal self-defense.

James Richards has studied the assassination of John F. Kennedy for the last 15 years and is very interested in the photographic record. James Richards has also researched the involvement of Cuban exiles, their various militant groups and their links to government agencies. His main focus has been David Morales and his connections to the likes of Johnny Roselli and John Martino.