Jury to Be Seated in Farwell Murder Trial

The federal court will finalize the jury and hear opening statements on Friday for the murder trial.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Sex Crimes

Jury to Be Seated in Farwell Murder Trial

Following a nine-hour voir dire session, the court will select the final jury panel on Friday, October 9, 2026. The trial centers on allegations against former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell regarding the 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore.

Why it matters

The case follows the Norfolk District Attorney's Office previous decision to decline the prosecution. The proceedings now move to federal court to resolve the long-standing charges surrounding the victim's death.

The court requires a final pool of 16 jurors, including 12 seated and 4 alternates, to be selected from 40 candidates. Prosecution and defense teams will exercise their respective peremptory challenges to finalize the panel.

The players

Matthew Farwell

He is a former police officer from Stoughton who is currently facing charges for the death of Sandra Birchmore.

Sandra Birchmore

She was 23 years old at the time of her death in February 2021.

Norfolk District Attorney's Office

This is the local prosecutorial agency that initially declined to move forward with the case against Matthew Farwell.

The details

Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, is accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore in February 2021. DNA testing has confirmed that Farwell is not the father of the child Birchmore was carrying at the time of her death.

February 2021: Sandra Birchmore died.
Thursday, October 8, 2026: Jurors completed nine hours of voir dire.
Friday, October 9, 2026: Peremptory challenges and opening statements begin.

Legal Context

This case follows the Norfolk District Attorney's Office initial decision to decline the prosecution of the defendant. The shift to federal court marks a significant departure from the local handling of the investigation.

The start of this high-profile federal trial may lead to increased security and traffic near the Boston federal courthouse. Local residents and businesses should anticipate potential activity surrounding the court building during the trial duration.

The takeaway

The court will finalize the jury panel before shifting immediately to opening arguments. This phase is critical for ensuring an impartial trial for the defendant after the case was elevated from local to federal oversight.