A Massachusetts man accused of killing and dismembering his wife has pled guilty to two of three counts in the case, but he still faces a murder trial.
Brian Walshe, 50, pled guilty to two lesser counts of willfully conveying a human body in violation of state law and misleading police, according to CBS News Boston, WCVB, and MassLive.com.
According to WCVB, prosecutors claimed Walshe’s conduct resulted in the combustion of his wife Ana, 39.
Walshe did not plead guilty to his wife’s murder, according to CBS Boston. He has maintained his innocence since his initial charge.
Jury selection started on Tuesday, November 18.
Ana was last seen alive on New Year’s Eve, 2022, in the Cohasset home she shared with her husband and children.
Her boss reported her missing on January 4 after she failed to show up for work in Washington, D.C., according to authorities.
Authorities think Walshe murdered his wife because he suspected she was having an affair. According to MassLive.com, authorities suspect he disposed of her body in dumpsters across the state.
His trial was scheduled to begin in October, but just before jury selection, Judge Diane Freniere sent him to Bridgewater State Hospital to have his mental health checked after being attacked in prison, Fox News said.
However, Freniere stated last week that she had gotten a complete report from the hospital determining Brian’s competency and readiness to face trial, according to Fox News.
The court, prosecutors, and Walshe’s attorneys met on Monday, Nov. 18, to discuss the evidence and testimony that jurors will hear during the trial, according to WCVB.
They talked about Walshe’s alleged web searches, which included identifying remains and dismembering a person, MassLive.com says.
He also allegedly looked up “ten ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to,” according to WCVB.
Prosecutors intend to inform jurors about those searches, but they also intend to present evidence that includes searches for pornography involving a “cheating wife,” according to MassLive.com.
Walshe’s defense attorneys are attempting to prevent jurors from hearing that.
