Brian Walshe appeared in Norfolk Superior Court on Monday for his final pre-trial hearing before jury selection begins in his high-profile murder trial. The Cohasset, Massachusetts man is accused of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana Walshe, on New Year’s Day 2023, though her body has never been recovered.
Cleared for Trial After Competency Evaluation
Last week, Judge Diana Freniere ruled that Walshe is mentally competent to stand trial after he spent 40 days undergoing psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital. The determination came after Walshe’s trial was delayed in October due to mental health concerns, and again after he was stabbed in an assault at a correctional facility in September.
Strong Circumstantial Case Despite Missing Body
Prosecutors allege Walshe killed Ana at their Cohasset home, dismembered her remains, and disposed of them across multiple locations. Investigators say they have extensive circumstantial evidence, including surveillance video showing Walshe disposing of large bags at five different locations, bloodstained items found in the home’s basement, and disturbing internet searches on his son’s iPad about disposing of bodies and how long it takes for remains to smell.
Jury Selection and Trial Timeline
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday, with Judge Freniere expecting to question approximately 70 potential jurors per day. She anticipates seating a jury by Thanksgiving, with opening arguments set for December 1. The trial is expected to last two to four weeks.
Motives and Context
Prosecutors have outlined two possible motives: Ana’s alleged affair, which Brian Walshe discovered and searched online, and financial pressures related to his pending sentencing in a federal art fraud case where he owed nearly $500,000 in restitution. Walshe was the beneficiary of Ana’s $2.7 million life insurance policy and allegedly believed having custody of their children might help him avoid prison time.