First Witnesses Testified In Trial Of Ex-MA Cop Accused Of Killing Pregnant Woman

STOUGHTON, MA — The first witnesses took the stand Tuesday in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell.

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 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in her Canton apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, then staged the scene to appear as though she died by suicide, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Prosecutors say Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from disclosing that he had used his position as a police officer to groom and sexually abuse her beginning when she was 15, according to the USAO.

Farwell’s defense acknowledges that he had an affair with Birchmore but maintains that he did not kill her, according to Boston 25 News.

First Day Of Testimony

Tuesday’s witnesses included people who knew Birchmore and those involved in the welfare check at her apartment, according to Boston 25 News. Jurors also viewed surveillance footage from her apartment building.

The trial is expected to last about five weeks. Farwell would face life in federal prison if convicted.

This story was updated at 4:36 p.m. on Tuesday with new information as the trial got underway.

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