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The forensic psychiatrist testified Birchmore had risk factors making her more prone to suicide.

NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne believes the defense is trying to prove one thing.

I think the bulk of their time, as it has been already and will continue to be, is that it's suicide,

not homicide.

Smock told the jury, in his opinion, the neck injuries were inconsistent with suicide, including a broken bone in Birchmore's neck and scratch marks he believes were caused by someone's fingernails trying to stop the strangulation.

NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne sat in on the testimony.

If she had done it herself with just the noose, you would not expect to see those lower injuries.

And he explained that in some real detail so the jury could understand why the injuries and the damage he found were inconsistent

Will Matthew Farwell take the stand? The defense telling the judge today that still has not been decided.

In Boston, Robert Goulston, NBC10 Boston.

Let's bring in our panel for tonight, NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne, as well as criminal defense attorney Elyse Hershon.

Thank you both for being with us.

Let's bring in our panel now.

We're joined by NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne.

And for the first time live in studio, Rachel Rawlins, former DA of Suffolk County, as well as a former U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

Welcome to Commonwealth Confidential.

Listen to all episodes of Before and After with Lester Holt now, wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back.

Chief Legal Analyst Michael Coyne is still with us.

And Sue O'Connell, our courtroom insider, has joined the conversation.

In Boston, Robert Goulston, NBC10 Boston.

Joining us tonight on our legal panel is NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne, as well as attorney and law professor Margo Lindauer.

Welcome, of course, to both of you.

One of the biggest things to happen today in court was a ruling by Judge Denise Casper.

You may not recognize his face, but his eye is one of the few ways you get to see inside the courtroom.

Today, I spoke with sketch artist Don Drake.

And we're back now with NBC10 Chief Legal Analyst Michael Coyne, as well as our courtroom insider Sue O'Connell.

Drake has been busy creating sketches throughout this trial.

In Boston, Robert Goulston, NBC10 Boston.

Joining us on our team tonight, Chief Legal Analyst Michael Coyne and Criminal Defense Attorney Elyse Hershon.

Thank you both for being here.

Of course, we learned a lot more about the texting history between Farwell and Birchmore from FBI agent Heidi Kelch.

He resigned the following year.

And then in 2025, the state's post commission permanently barred him from serving as a law enforcement officer.

All right, let's welcome back now our panel of experts with Michael Coyne and Elyse Hershon.

Switching gears a little here, for the first few days of this trial, we know there are no cameras in the courtroom, there's no audio, but there are exhibits.

One of the photos includes the duffel bag strap that prosecutors say Matthew Farwell used to strangle Birchmore on that day.

Let's get the conversation started now with NBC10 Boston legal analyst Michael Coyne, as well as NBC10 courtroom insider Sue O'Connell.

Welcome to both of you.

We learned a lot about Birchmore through the first two witnesses, of course.

So those witnesses are going to have some rough going with respect to the government's questions.

They have to.

Michael Coyne, Sue O'Connell, thank you very much.

NBC10's Commonwealth Confidential team will be covering this case from beginning to end.

But for the trial and the witnesses, the defense has listed some state troopers, including Matthew Dunn, who I mentioned earlier, John Fanning, mentioned earlier, uh, the Canton police officers that were involved in the Karen Read case.

NBC 10's chief legal analyst Michael Coyne said last week that he expects a hard-fought defense with a real chance of succeeding.

And I'm gonna be honest, right? Like, take that seriously.

This is not a slam dunk case just because the original investigation was garbage and all sign points to Matthew.

We've got team coverage for you tonight.

NBC 10 chief legal analyst Michael Coyne will join us momentarily.

Let's begin, though, with NBC 10's Colton Bradford.

Colton, bring us up to speed.

Back to you.

Colton, thank you.

Let's pick up our team coverage now with NBC10 Chief Legal Analyst Michael Coyne.

As always, thank you for being with us tonight, Michael.