A former police dispatcher has delivered significant testimony in the federal trial of Matthew Farwell, the former Mᴀssachusetts police officer accused of killing Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman who was pregnant when she d!ed in February 2021.

James Fitton told jurors that Farwell reacted with anger after learning that a woman had contacted the Stoughton Police Department about his alleged Sєxual relationship with Birchmore. According to Fitton, Farwell instructed him never to discuss the call again.

Twelve days after that January 20, 2021, conversation, Birchmore was found de#d in her apartment. Prosecutors argue that the call was a turning point that gave Farwell a reason to silence her. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and his defense maintains that Birchmore d!ed by suicide.

A dispatcher’s testimony raises further questions

Fitton’s account has also drawn attention to the handling of the original call within the police department. He testified that his notes were discarded and that he did not treat the call as a report of criminal wrongdoing at the time.

During cross-examination, Fitton acknowledged that he did not recall the caller explicitly reporting a crime or describing the Sєxual relationship as one that began when Birchmore was a minor.

That distinction matters because the trial is examining not only the events surrounding Birchmore’s de#ath but also what people knew, when they knew it, and how the information was handled.

The testimony does not independently establish why Birchmore d!ed, but it gives jurors a clearer picture of the allegations that surfaced shortly before her de#ath.

The trial continues as both sides present their cases

Farwell faces federal charges connected to Birchmore’s de#ath and the de#ath of her unborn child. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say the evidence will show that he killed Birchmore to prevent her from revealing information about the alleged abuse and their relationship. The defense rejects that account and argues that Birchmore d!ed by suicide.

As testimony continues, jurors will have to evaluate the dispatcher’s account alongside medical evidence, electronic communications, witness statements and other investigative findings.

For Birchmore’s family and friends, the proceedings represent an effort to establish what happened to a young woman whose de#ath raised questions that remained unresolved for years.

The January phone call may prove important to the prosecution’s explanation of motive. But the ultimate decision rests with the jury, which must determine whether the evidence establishes Farwell’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sources:

• NBC Boston — Dispatcher testifies about Farwell’s reaction to the call