Testimony began Tuesday 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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Photos, videos from Sandra Birchmore's apartment shown as testimony begins in Matthew Farwell's trial
Jurors saw surveillance video from Sandra Birchmore's apartment building and photos of her body during the first day of testimony in the trial of Matthew Farwell, the former Stoughton police officer who is accused of killing her in 2021 to hide a sexual relationship that began when she was a minor.
The first witness called in the case was Detective Heather Cheever, of the Stoughton Police Department. She knew Birchmore, who was in the department's Explorers program as a minor.
Cheever testified that she had heard Birchmore was pregnant before her death, which was originally described as a suicide. She also testified that she recognized Farwell in surveillance video leaving Birchmore's apartment building wearing a mask, but noted he had told her that he never believed in COVID-19.
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. The prosecution alleges that he staged her death to look like a suicide.
Cheryl Carlson, an assistant principal who hired Birchmore to work as an instructional assistant in Sharon Public Schools, was the second witness called to testify. She said that Birchmore's death "didn't make sense" because she was excited about her pregnancy.
The third witness called to the stand on Tuesday was Erin Porter, the property manager at Canton Woods, who helped officers with the wellness check that led to the discovery of Birchmore's body on Feb. 4, 2021. She said Birchmore's apartment was locked when they arrived.
Porter testified that she saw someone in the lobby of Birchmore's building on Feb. 1, 2021, and called law enforcement. Video evidence from the lobby's camera was shown to the jury.
After the lunch break, Canton School Resource Officer Ensley Cotard testified that he was asked to conduct the well-being check in Birchmore's apartment. Photos of Birchmore's body were introduced into evidence during his testimony.
Cotard testified that Birchmore's death appeared to be a suicide, but said he didn't find a suicide note.
Carlos Verissimo, maintenance supervisor at Canton Woods, testified about the layout of the building where Birchmore lived and identified her in videos from the property's surveillance.
Late in the afternoon, state police homicide investigator Trooper Matthew Dunne began his testimony. He was assigned to the Norfolk County State Police Detective Unit and was one of the lead state investigators during the initial state-level inquiry into the death. From court records, we know he was one of the troopers who initially interviewed Farwell about Birchmore's death.
