Jury Selection Begins Oct. 6 in Boston Federal Trial of Ex-Stoughton Officer Matthew Farwell
Jury selection began on October 6 at Boston's John Joseph Moakley federal courthouse in the trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, accused of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore. The case — involving allegations that an officer exploited his authority in an inappropriate relationship with a young woman and then killed her to cover it up — has drawn sustained attention across New England.
Prosecutors allege that Farwell began an inappropriate relationship with Birchmore while she was a minor and killed her after she became pregnant, staging the scene to look like a suicide. Birchmore's body was found in her Canton apartment in 2021. Farwell faces federal charges including homicide and witness retaliation, carrying a possible life sentence.
The defense maintains Birchmore died by suicide and denies Farwell had anything to do with her death. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with prosecutors planning to call dozens of witnesses, including fellow officers, forensic experts, and Birchmore's family and friends.
Given intense public interest, the court is selecting jurors from hundreds of candidates, with the judge individually questioning each on prior knowledge of the case and ability to remain impartial. Selection is expected to take several days, with opening statements to follow once the jury is seated.
(Sources: Associated Press, Boston Globe)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：波士顿约翰·约瑟夫·莫克利联邦法院大楼临港外景。摄影：Mbfitz，公有领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons
- 2026-10-06Jury Selection Begins Oct. 6 in Boston Federal Trial of Ex-Stoughton Officer Matthew FarwellThis story
- 2026-10-31Follow-Up: Defense Case Under Way in Farwell Murder Trial: Expert Calls Birchmore a High Suicide Risk as Prosecutors Challenge Her Knowledge of the Final Day
