Trial begins for former Massachusetts officer accused of killing pregnant woman

Opening statements began on Friday in the federal trial of Matthew Farwell, a former Massachusetts police officer, who is charged with killing Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman who was pregnant at the time of her death. The incident initially classified as a suicide occurred on February 1, 2021 in Stoughton, Massachusetts. During the trial's opening statements, prosecutor Torey Cummings alleged that Farwell, who had been sexually abusing Birchmore since she was 15 years old and was married himself, lured her into a false sense of security before allegedly murdering her to cover up their affair. Prosecutors claim Farwell asked for access to Birchmore’s apartment in the days leading up to her death, which Birchmore found “weird,” indicating she may have felt uneasy but was ultimately deceived by his behavior.