Jurors began deliberations Friday in Brian Walshe's murder trial. Walshe is accused of killing his wife Ana, a charge he denies.

Boston

Twelve jurors in Massachusetts have started deliberating in the trial of Brian Walshe, who is accused of killing and dismembering his wife on New Year's Day 2023. Prosecutors allege Walshe took steps to cover up the crime, citing surveillance footage, Google searches about disposing of a body, and forensic evidence, while the defense argues he found his wife dead unexpectedly and panicked, emphasizing a lack of motive, premeditation, or evidence of a struggle.

Key evidence presented includes footage of Walshe with large bags, purchases of cleaning supplies, and bloody belongings found in a dumpster. Testimony from forensic experts and acquaintances, as well as the absence of a history of domestic violence, are also being weighed by the jury as they consider their verdict.

Jury begins deliberations in Brian Walshe murder trial

to Massachusetts. Now we're 12 jurors will decide whether Brian Walsh is guilty of killing his wife on a deliberations began today after both sides delivered closing arguments. Prosecutors allege Walsh killed and then dismembered his wife on New Year's Day of 2023. The defense argues he unexpectedly found his wife dead in their bed and panicked. I'm joined now by legal analyst Jennifer Roman, who's been closely following this case day by day. Jennifer, walk us through today's closing arguments. What did both sides really want to impress upon the jurors ahead of deliberations? The defense was really focused on negating any effort by the prosecution to show pre meditation and to show motive. And so the defense's closing was really focused on that. They were focused on the fact that there was, you know, he claims there's no proof that Brian Walsh knew about on a Walsh's affair. There was no proof that the parties were struggling financially. In fact, the defense argued they were making big plans for their future. The defense argued there's no proof that Brian Walsh was relying on the life insurance that was ensuring on a Walsh's life. There was no proof at all that their marriage was on the rocks is what the defense was saying. And in fact, on a Walsh trusted Brian Walsh so much that their three young Children were primarily in his care while she worked in Washington, D. C. So the defense was very much focused on eliminating pre meditation, eliminating motive and pointing out to the jurors there was no signs of struggle inside that home. There is no blood splatter. There was no evidence around the fireplace that had some child protective coating on there that that had been damaged or in a struggle or a fight. Then we've got the prosecution who really seemed to be leaning into the jury's common sense. They really focused on the fact that Brian Walsh was not, in fact, concerned about his wife dying a sudden unexpected death, as Brian Walsh's defense team has claimed and argued, but rather concerned about cleaning up the murder and making sure that there was no evidence that the that the police could find that would link him to the murder. And they relied on this surveillance footage. They relied on the Google searches that he made following on his death that included things like how best to dispose of a body. Does bleach work to clean up D. N. A. How long does D. N. A. Last? And so that the prosecution was really focusing on those points, and I think they really pointed out in a very compelling manner. The searches that Brian Walsh did not make after on a wash was, you know, he claims was found dead. He didn't Google how best to support grieving Children after the loss of a parent. He didn't Google sudden unexpected death or potential causes of a sudden death. And I thought that was really compelling point for the prosecution to point out on their closing today. There were a lot of pieces of evidence in this trial. The one big piece that was missing was the body. But what piece of evidence that was revealed in court do you think will be the most crucial in terms of the outcome of this trial? I think the surveillance footage of Brian Walsh taking large bags for sure is going to be crucial as well as his purchases at Lowe's. The cleaning supplies that he purchased. The fact that he went to a Lowe's an hour away from his home wearing gloves and a mask and had 600 and some odd dollars in cash on him to make this purchase and then all of the bloody clothing that the police found in the dumpster, her personal belongings that had her blood on them. The areas of the carpet that were removed from the home with on a Walsh's blood and DNA on it. I think all of that physical evidence is going to be really crucial for the prosecution. But I think the jury is also going to weigh heavily the testimony, the testimony not only of the medical examiner and the scientist who confirmed that this was on his DNA, but also her friends and the person she was said to be having an affair with. Um, they all also provided some really important insight into the potential relationship between on a Walsh and Brian Walsh and the lack of any sort of domestic violence or a history of violence. And I think that's going to be heavily on the jury's mind as they sift through all of this evidence. Jennifer Roman, thank you so much.

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Breakdown