Prosecutors rested their case in the Brian Walshe murder trial on Wednesday, indicating the trial is nearing a conclusion.
The government rested its case after eight days of witness testimony. The final witness to testify was Alissa Kirby, who was a close friend of Walshe’s wife, Ana.
After Kirby stepped off the witness stand, prosecutor Greg Connor said, “your honor, the commonwealth rests” after being prompted to call a new witness.
The case now moves to Walshe’s defense. His attorneys listed just eight people as potential witnesses before the trial began, making it unlikely their presentation will go as long as the government’s.
Still, it appears as though Walshe may take the stand in his own defense.
The trial appears to be ahead of schedule. On Friday, Judge Diane Freniere told the jury she expected the evidence to last two more full weeks. It seems unlikely that a defense case would last that long.
Prosecutors have not indicated they intend to put on a rebuttal case.
Walshe, 50, is accused of killing his wife, Ana, in their home on the early morning of New Year’s Day 2023, then dismembering her body and disposing of her remains at dumpsters across the state.
Walshe’s defense has said Ana Walshe died a sudden, unexplained death of natural causes and that he panicked after finding her dead. Before the trial started, Walshe pleaded guilty to two charges, admitting that he moved his wife’s body and misled the police investigation into her disappearance.