Norfolk County Judge Diane Freniere has set a series of dates for Brian Walshe's murder trial, including a competency hearing on November 14 and jury selection starting on November 18. The trial had been delayed after an inmate stabbed Walshe in September while he was being held in jail.
As part of the trial preparations, prosecutors are working to preserve cellphone evidence that could be crucial to the case. A judge has ruled that the offices of the United States Attorneys must preserve data from a former State Police Trooper's cellphone, which contains "images of intimate body parts" and other sensitive information.
The cellphone in question belonged to Michael Proctor, who led an investigation into the Karen Read case. Defense attorneys are seeking access to the material, including phone files and documents that were previously unavailable for review due to being set to be destroyed by Friday.
The defense team has argued that reviewing these materials could reveal exculpatory evidence, such as whether police supervisors knew about Proctor's behavior and failed to discipline him. If proven, this information could potentially harm the prosecution's case against Walshe.
Jury selection is expected to take around two weeks, with the final pre-trial conference on November 17. The judge hopes to wrap up the trial by Christmas, but acknowledged that "hope is not a plan."
Brian Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana Walshe in January 2023. The investigation into her disappearance has been ongoing for months, with new developments emerging regularly.
As part of the trial preparations, prosecutors are working to preserve cellphone evidence that could be crucial to the case. A judge has ruled that the offices of the United States Attorneys must preserve data from a former State Police Trooper's cellphone, which contains "images of intimate body parts" and other sensitive information.
The cellphone in question belonged to Michael Proctor, who led an investigation into the Karen Read case. Defense attorneys are seeking access to the material, including phone files and documents that were previously unavailable for review due to being set to be destroyed by Friday.
The defense team has argued that reviewing these materials could reveal exculpatory evidence, such as whether police supervisors knew about Proctor's behavior and failed to discipline him. If proven, this information could potentially harm the prosecution's case against Walshe.
Jury selection is expected to take around two weeks, with the final pre-trial conference on November 17. The judge hopes to wrap up the trial by Christmas, but acknowledged that "hope is not a plan."
Brian Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana Walshe in January 2023. The investigation into her disappearance has been ongoing for months, with new developments emerging regularly.