The defense’s psychiatrist told jurors Friday that the end of Sandra Birchmore’s relationship with Matthew Farwell could have been the final loss in a string of them, and that it would have been “catastrophic” to her, NBC10 Boston reported. Dr. Melissa Piasecki was the only witness on the 14th day of testimony, MassLive reported. Before sending jurors home for the weekend, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper told them she expects them to get the case next Friday, November 6, according to NBC10.
Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective, is charged with killing Birchmore, 23, who was pregnant, and with causing the death of her unborn child, in February 2021. Prosecutors say he strangled her and staged her Canton apartment to look like a suicide. He has pleaded not guilty, and his defense says Birchmore took her own life after he broke up with her on February 1, 2021. He is presumed innocent.
The psychiatrist
Piasecki is executive associate dean and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, MassLive reported, citing an online biography. NBC10 described her as a board-certified forensic psychiatrist. Her testimony supported the defense claim that Birchmore took her own life, MassLive reported. According to NBC10’s account:
- Reactions to loss. Piasecki said Birchmore’s history showed “dramatic” reactions to perceived losses of relationships, along with past suicidal thoughts and statements, including when she broke up with an earlier boyfriend.
- The earlier boyfriend. Questioning turned to William Kilroy, who testified Thursday that Birchmore threatened suicide when he tried to cut off contact in early 2018. Kilroy reported that threat to the FBI, Piasecki testified.
- The pregnancy. Piasecki said Birchmore sought attachment and engagement with people and appeared to be building up “colorful expectations” for the delivery and life afterward.
- A question she did not answer. The defense asked what would have happened if, on February 1, 2021, Farwell told Birchmore the baby was not his and he was ending the relationship. Prosecutors objected, and she did not answer.
- Cross-examination. Under questioning by prosecutors, Piasecki agreed that the last person Birchmore talked to was Farwell, as she welcomed him into her home.
- Redirect. Asked whether someone can be happy about a pregnancy and still have suicide risk factors related to it, she said both can be true. Pregnancy can be socially positive, she said, but it also brings hormonal changes, can rekindle grief and can worsen depression.
Prosecutors have told jurors that Birchmore was not depressed or suicidal when she died and would not have harmed her unborn child, MassLive reported. Earlier in the trial, Birchmore’s OB-GYN testified that she had “no indications” of suicidal tendencies, 7News reported.
The schedule for next week
After the jury left, Casper laid out the rest of the trial in open court, NBC10 reported:
- Monday and Tuesday. The defense expects to call three doctors each day.
- Wednesday. Two more defense witnesses; Casper expects the defense to rest.
- Thursday. No court.
- Friday, November 6. Casper expects the jury to get the case and told jurors to plan to be in court from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Farwell. He is not listed as a potential witness, NBC10 reported.
- Closings. Both sides asked for 90 minutes each for closing arguments. Prosecutors acknowledged that is longer than usual. Casper said she would consider it.
- A possible fight over experts. Prosecutors argued two of the doctors the defense plans to call would be redundant and said they would consider filing a motion.
The law: the charge conference and “cumulative” witnesses
- Jury instructions. Casper scheduled a charge conference with the lawyers for Monday afternoon. Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 30, either side may ask in writing for specific jury instructions, and “the court must inform the parties before closing arguments how it intends to rule on the requested instructions.” A party who objects to an instruction must say so “before the jury retires to deliberate,” or generally loses the right to raise it on appeal. We read the rule at Cornell’s Legal Information Institute.
- Redundant experts. The prosecution’s objection to two defense doctors would likely rest on Federal Rule of Evidence 403, which lets a judge exclude relevant evidence if its value “is substantially outweighed by a danger of” problems including “undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.”
Frequently asked questions
When will the Farwell jury start deliberating?
Judge Denise Casper told jurors she expects them to get the case on Friday, November 6, 2026, according to NBC10 Boston.
Will Matthew Farwell testify?
He is not listed as a potential defense witness, NBC10 reported. A defendant has the right not to testify, and the jury may not hold that against him.
Who is Dr. Melissa Piasecki?
A psychiatry professor and executive associate dean at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, called by Farwell’s defense as an expert on mental health and suicide.
Sources: NBC10 Boston live coverage, October 30, 2026; MassLive, October 29 and 30, 2026; Boston 25 News, October 30, 2026; 7News (WHDH). Fed. R. Crim. P. 30 and Fed. R. Evid. 403 read at Cornell’s Legal Information Institute. Farwell is presumed innocent. General information, not legal advice.