Matthew Farwell murder trial to proceed in Boston after judge denies venue change

A federal judge has denied a request to move the murder trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell out of Massachusetts. Judge Denise Casper ruled that the defense failed to prove that pretrial publicity would prevent an impartial jury from being selected in Boston.

Farwell is accused of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in February 2021 at her Canton apartment during a blizzard. Prosecutors allege that Farwell, who had previously been part of a police mentorship program that included Birchmore when she was 15, killed her and staged the scene to look like a suicide. Birchmore was eight to 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 6, with the goal of selecting 16 jurors. The court has ruled that Birchmore’s journals and medical history are admissible as evidence. Farwell has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.