BOSTON (WHDH) - Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of Matthew Farwell, the former Stoughton police officer charged with grooming and killing Sandra Birchmore.
Farwell is on trial for allegedly killing Birchmore, 23, and her unborn child in 2021, when he feared their affair would become public.
The prosecution said they have video evidence showing Farwell wearing a medical mask when visiting Birchmore’s Canton apartment the night she died.
Detective Heather Cheever first took the stand Tuesday morning and said she never saw Farwell wearing a medical mask. She added he wasn’t super concerned about COVID-19.
Cheever said she was not aware of Birchmore’s relationship with Farwell, adding that it wasn’t appropriate.
Cheever testified about responding to a mental health call in 2020 at Birchmore’s home. She said the young woman got into an argument with her aunt and mentioned wanting to hurt herself. Cheever said she didn’t believe Birchmore was suicidal.
Prosecutors said Farwell began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 years old and part of the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program. They allege Farwell strangled Birchmore to keep her from going public with their relationship.
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Cheever admitted that police took Birchmore to the hospital back in 2020 because she had talked of suicide, but she testified, “She was angry. She got into an argument with her aunt… She made a statement that she wanted to hurt herself, but said she didn’t really mean it. She said it out of anger.”
Federal prosecutors want jurors in the trial to hear from three women who allegedly had affairs with Farwell. The judge barred discussion of extramarital affairs, but prosecutors said the defense opened the door, saying in a filing: “The defendant’s opening statement made the special relevance of the extramarital affairs crystal clear. [Farwell’s attorney] told the jury, ‘Matthew Farwell is a man who had an affair.'”
Prosecutors said those three women are prepared to testify.
Birchmore’s boss also testified on Tuesday. Birchmore worked as a teacher’s aide. She testified that Birchmore was pregnant and single, but happy about it.
Cheryl Carlson told the jury that Birchmore said, “… The father was in a committed relationship, and there were children involved… The plan was that he was going to leave the situation when her child was born.”
The prosecution’s witness list contains 67 names; the defense’s list has 97.
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