STOUGHTON, MA — Jurors in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell told a judge Monday that they were deadlocked on a verdict in the case involving the death of Sandra Birchmore, according to multiple reports.
In a note to the court, jurors said they were "in a deadlock that looks like it will not change any time soon," WCVB reported.
The defense objected to the jury continuing deliberations without further instructions from the court, while prosecutors suggested giving jurors the option to continue deliberating Monday, the news outlet reported.
The judge ended up dismissing the jury for the day and instructed jurors to return Tuesday.
Meanwhile, members of Birchmore's family and friends gathered outside the federal courthouse Monday for a vigil in her memory.
What To Know
Farwell, 40, is charged with killing Birchmore and causing the death of her unborn child. Prosecutors say he strangled the pregnant 23-year-old in her Canton apartment in 2021 to prevent her from disclosing their relationship, which they say began when she was 15. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains Birchmore died by suicide.
Prosecutors say Farwell killed the 23-year-old to prevent her from disclosing that he had groomed and sexually abused her beginning when she was 15, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The first set of witnesses took the stand on Oct. 13 after a jury of was finalized the week before.
Farwell faces federal charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of a child in utero, according to a superseding indictment. Prosecutors claim Farwell strangled Birchmore in her apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, then staged the scene to appear as though she died by suicide.
Farwell's defense acknowledges that he had an affair with Birchmore but maintains that he did not kill her.
Patch put together a roundup of five important things to know about the trial. You can read it here.
Catch up on Patch's previous coverage of the trial with a day-by-day breakdown of testimony:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Stoughton Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.