Stoughton, Mass. – The defense team for former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell filed court papers on Monday seeking additional time to request a new trial and a judgment of acquittal after Farwell was convicted of killing Sandra Birchmore and violating a federal law that protects unborn children.

Conviction details

The jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday, finding Farwell responsible for the death of Birchmore, who was identified by prosecutors as a witness in an ongoing investigation. Prosecutors alleged that Farwell began sexually abusing Birchmore when she was 15 years old and later killed her to prevent her from speaking to authorities. They also asserted that Farwell attempted to stage the death as a suicide.

Legal filings

According to the court documents, Farwell’s attorneys are asking the judge to grant a continuance so they can file motions that seek a new trial and a judgment of acquittal. The filings note that the prosecution did not object to the request for additional time.

Farwell is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2027. No sentencing details have been released at this time.

Community reaction

Local residents expressed a mixture of shock and concern following the conviction. While some community members called for swift justice, others emphasized the importance of due process and the right to appeal.

“We trust our legal system to handle this fairly,” said one Stoughton resident who asked to remain anonymous. “If there are legitimate grounds for a new trial, the courts should consider them.”

Next steps

The defense’s request for a continuance means the case will remain active in the courtroom for several more months. Both the prosecution and defense are expected to file further briefs before the sentencing hearing in early 2027.

Authorities have not indicated any further investigative actions related to the case at this time.

Original reporting: NBC 10 WJAR (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.