Local
Therapist tells Farwell jury she saw no signs Birchmore intended to die
Sandra Birchmore’s longtime therapist testified that she detected no suicidal thoughts during their final session weeks before Birchmore’s death. The testimony came as prosecutors neared the end of their case against former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell.
A therapist who treated Sandra Birchmore testified Friday that she saw no signs Birchmore was considering suicide during their final appointment, held weeks before Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment in 2021.
Diala Alkhalil told the jury in the federal murder trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell that she had regularly assessed Birchmore for suicidal thoughts and had not observed signs of suicidal ideation. Alkhalil said Birchmore appeared like herself at their Jan. 31, 2021, session and was doing well while taking Zoloft.
Birchmore did tell Alkhalil she was worried something might happen to her in her apartment. She also described a dream in which her deceased mother appeared in her bedroom holding Birchmore’s unborn baby. Alkhalil testified that, in her clinical opinion, the dream was not a hallucination.
Farwell is charged with strangling Birchmore, who was pregnant, and staging her death as a suicide. Prosecutors allege he killed her after she told him he was the father of the unborn child; DNA evidence later showed he was not the father. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, according to the trial coverage.
Alkhalil said she first began treating Birchmore when she was about 10 or 11, for ADHD and behavioral issues, and resumed seeing her regularly in 2016 as Birchmore struggled with grief and panic attacks. She testified that Birchmore was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression, and was an engaged client who rarely missed appointments.
The therapist also testified that Birchmore had taken a large quantity of pills and vomited them up sometime between ages 15 and 18, during a period when she was not seeing Alkhalil. Alkhalil said she did not treat Birchmore for cutting and had not noticed cuts, only scratches she attributed to cats.
Earlier Friday, Birchmore’s friend Linda Crean testified about their friendship, Birchmore’s relationship with Farwell and the losses of Birchmore’s mother and grandmother. Crean said Birchmore told her in 2016 that she had been cutting herself after those deaths.
Friday’s proceedings were a half day. Prosecutors have indicated they could finish presenting their case next week; Alkhalil is expected to return to the stand Monday. The defense will have an opportunity to present its case after the prosecution rests.