Opening statements were delivered Friday in the trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore in 2021 to hide a sexual relationship that began when she was a minor.
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Opening statements delivered in Matthew Farwell trial in Sandra Birchmore's death
Opening statements in the trial of former Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell were delivered Friday before the jury was sent home for the day.
The former Stoughton officer is accused of strangling Sandra Birchmore in 2021 and staging her death to look like a suicide.
"I'm really happy this day has finally come. Waited a long time," Birchmore's cousin said Friday.
Prosecutors allege that Farwell initiated a sexual relationship with Birchmore in 2012 and accuse him of killing her after she told him about her pregnancy and threatened to expose their relationship. Farwell is accused of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of Birchmore's unborn child.
Judge Denise Casper gave both sides one final chance to rule out any jurors before 10 men and six women were seated. Twelve of the 16 jurors will be chosen to deliberate the case.
"He killed her so that she couldn't talk about what he had done with her and to her," Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey Cummings told the jury in her opening statement. "The evidence will show that the defendant murdered Sandra by strangling her."
Defense Attorney Kimberly Stevens argued a very different theory, the suicide theory, which was the Medical Examiner's original determination.
"Matthew Farwell is a man who has had an affair. He's made some regrettable mistakes. He's human. Matthew Farwell did not kill Sandra Birchmore. He did not," Stevens said.
