Massachusetts man Brian Walshe, accused of murdering his wife, appeared in court on Monday, where a judge set his trial for next year.
Ana Walshe, a 39-year-old mother of three, disappeared on New Year’s Day 2023 and was reported missing shortly after. Her remains have not been found, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Prosecutors alleged that Brian Walshe killed his wife and provided false information to authorities about her disappearance.
During a hearing at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on Monday, Judge Diane Freniere set Brian Walshe’s trial for October 21, 2025, according to FOX News Digital.
She anticipates the trial will take no more than four weeks.
During the hearing, the defense urged prosecutors to investigate possible police bias, highlighting that Trooper Michael Proctor, who is leading the Walshe case, also headed the Karen Read case.
The Read case resulted in a mistrial after inappropriate texts from Proctor were revealed during testimony.
Proctor has since been suspended without pay for admitting to unprofessional behavior in the Read case, including making derogatory comments about her.
The prosecution consented to request investigators to look for any emails or text messages from law enforcement that could suggest bias in how the Walshe case was handled, in addition to determining if any information was lost or destroyed.
Meanwhile, Brian Walshe claimed that Ana was called back to Washington, D.C., on New Year’s Day 2023 for a work emergency, but he did not contact her employer until January 4, 2023.
CBS News reports that prosecutors stated that the company, which was the first to inform police about Ana Walshe’s disappearance, reported there was no emergency.
Walshe also allegedly searched the internet for the best ways to dismember a body, how to clean blood, and whether someone can be charged without a body.
If convicted of murder, Walshe faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court date is in August.
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[Feature Photo: Ana Walshe/Handiut]
