Closing arguments are set for Friday morning in Boston federal court in the trial of Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective accused of killing Sandra Birchmore, 23, in her Canton apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, and staging the scene as a suicide. Farwell, 41, has pleaded not guilty.
What are the central allegations?
Prosecutors allege Farwell strangled Birchmore to stop her from disclosing alleged federal crimes, including sexually exploiting her beginning at age 15, when he was a 27-year-old officer and instructor in a Stoughton police youth Explorer program. He is also accused of causing the death of her male fetus.
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The defense contends Birchmore had a long history of mental illness and killed herself after Farwell ended their relationship and denied impregnating her.
How did the defense present its case?
After prosecutors called nearly 40 witnesses, the defense called 12 before resting Wednesday. Farwell chose not to testify. Defense witnesses challenged the government's forensic evidence:
- A DNA expert said the way investigators packaged the ligature was not suited to preserving DNA evidence.
- A digital forensics expert questioned step data from Birchmore's iPhone, saying such data should be interpreted cautiously depending on where the phone was carried.
- A former New Hampshire medical examiner noted no obvious signs of struggle in the apartment.
What happens next in the Matthew Farwell trial?
Each side gets 90 minutes. Chief US District Court Judge Denise J. Casper will then instruct the jury, a panel of 10 men and six women, before deliberations begin. Farwell faces two federal charges and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
FAQ
What charges does Farwell face?
Killing a witness or victim, and killing a child in utero.
When was Farwell arrested?
He was arrested in August 2024, more than a year after Birchmore's death.
