Birchmore Trial: Defense Witnesses Take Stand

The defense presented its first witnesses in the federal trial of Matthew Farwell on Wednesday.

Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer and volunteer police Explorer, is accused of strangling Sandra Birchmore at her Canton apartment in early 2021. Prosecutors allege the killing occurred after Birchmore informed him of a pregnancy and identified him as the father. Subsequent DNA testing determined Farwell was not the biological father. The defense argues the death was a suicide, a ruling initially made by Dr. Capo Martinez, who performed the autopsy.

Mindy Hull, the Massachusetts chief medical examiner, took the stand to discuss the department's procedures. She stated that she handles hiring for the office and noted that Dr. Martinez has served for several years. The prosecution objected to questions regarding Hull’s personal agreement with Martinez’s findings, an objection that was sustained. Consequently, Hull did not answer whether she endorsed the specific decisions in the Birchmore case.

William Kilroy, a former boyfriend of Birchmore, also testified for the defense. He described their relationship as beginning with friendship before they dated. Kilroy characterized Birchmore as depressed, angry, and confused during their time together. He said she frequently discussed her grandmother, who had died, and expressed a desire to join her. Kilroy noted that Birchmore struggled with alcohol consumption, a trait he said was common in her family, and that he tried to discourage her from drinking.

Kilroy stated that Birchmore told him she had a miscarriage and claimed the fetus was his. He said she threatened to take her own life and include a note blaming him for her death. He estimated this threat occurred around the end of 2017. During cross-examination, the prosecution questioned whether Birchmore had actually attempted suicide during the period Kilroy knew her, from 2016 to 2018. Kilroy maintained that she never tried to kill herself during that timeframe and did not require him to stop her.

Kilroy acknowledged that Birchmore’s depression worsened following the deaths of her mother and grandmother. He said she required assistance in deciding to remove her mother from life support. Despite these difficulties, Kilroy said Birchmore maintained a therapist and showed resilience. He described her as a fighter who pulled through difficult moments. He added that she remained a frequent texter, contacting him multiple times daily even after they broke up in January 2018. He said he last saw her that month.

The judge convened the court early on Wednesday for a sidebar discussion with attorneys regarding defense exhibits. The defense indicated it has approximately one week of witnesses remaining. This timeline suggests closing arguments could occur as soon as next week. The trial is part of a series of high-profile Massachusetts criminal cases following the recent trials of Lindsay Clancy and Karen Read. No video recording is permitted in the federal courtroom.

Kilroy described Birchmore as lovely and a person who enjoyed making others laugh, despite her emotional struggles. He said he continued to support her through both depressed and happy periods. The jury is currently evaluating the defense narrative that Birchmore’s death was a suicide, contrasting with the prosecution's claim of homicide.