Prior to Birchmore's death she was excited about her pregnancy, friend says in murder trial
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A friend said Sandra Birchmore was overjoyed about her pregnancy and never mentioned suicide during testimony Thursday in a trial against a former Stoughton detective accused of killing her. It’s part of the federal case that challenges the state’s initial finding that Birchmore killed herself in her Canton apartment. Matthew Farwell, 40, is accused of strangling Birchmore, who was 23 and 8 to 10 weeks pregnant, in February 2021 and staging her death to look like a suicide. Lesley Davis, 30, told jurors that Birchmore was “so happy” about being pregnant and had asked Davis to be the baby’s godmother. She also testified that Birchmore said Farwell shoved her to the ground when she asked if he would sign the birth certificate, and that he denied he was the father. Days after Birchmore’s death, Davis said, she went to Canton police and urged them to investigate Farwell. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and his defense team has argued that Birchmore killed herself because she was upset that Farwell ended their relationship. DNA testing later excluded him as the father.
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