“ANA WALSHE IS DEAD BECAUSE OF HIM”: Closing arguments presented at Brian Walshe’s trial! (VIDEO)

The jury began deliberations after closing arguments were presented on Friday in the trial of Brian Walshe, accused of murdering his wife, Ana Walshe.

Brian Walshe is accused of killing his wife, 39-year-old Ana Walshe from Belgrade, around New Year’s Day 2023. Last month, he admitted to lying to police after her disappearance and disposing of her body, but he denied killing her and pleaded not guilty to murder.

Ana Walshe’s body has still not been found. The judge released the jury to begin deliberations on Friday afternoon.

Before the closing arguments, Judge Diane Freniere told the jury during instructions that they could also decide on a verdict of second-degree murder, and not just the first-degree murder sought by the prosecution, which includes the element of premeditation.

Opening of the trial and the defense

At the start of the trial last week, defense attorneys said Brian Walshe found his wife dead in bed on New Year’s Day 2023 and, in a panic, lied to the police as they investigated her disappearance – but they claimed he did not kill her.

The prosecution alleges that Walshe killed and dismembered his wife’s body, then dumped the remains in dumpsters. Internet searches on his devices on January 1, 2023, included terms like “best way to dispose of a body,” “how long to be missing to inherit,” and “best way to dispose of body parts after murder.”

Defense attorney, Larry Tipton, said the state had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Walshe – whom he described as a “loving father and loving husband” – killed his wife or had a motive to do so.

He stated that the “unspeakable” internet searches and questions on how to “dispose of the body of the woman he adored” could have an explanation that is unexpected and that only a medical expert could understand, but not an ordinary man like Brian Walshe.

Tipton conceded there was evidence Walshe lied and disposed of the body, but argued there was no evidence he planned to harm his wife. The internet search about murder was conducted six hours after his wife’s death, and the “disturbing” searches about dismembering and cleaning the body did not indicate a plan, but his disbelief.

“Why would a man be searching now if he intended to kill his wife?” Tipton asked the jury. “Where is the evidence of premeditation in the thousands of pages of evidence?”

Prosecution’s closing argument

Prosecutor Ann Jas told the jury: “Ana Walshe is dead because he killed her,” pointing at Brian Walshe in the courtroom.

She argued that Ana Walshe did not die of natural causes – but that Walshe killed her and disposed of the body to conceal the evidence.

“The defendant did not want anyone to find Ana’s body and find out how she died, so he bought tools at Lowe’s and Home Depot and cut up the body of Ana – the woman he claimed to love – and threw her in dumpsters,” Jas said.

Jas stressed that the evidence shows Walshe intended to kill his wife and was “methodical” – his excuse that he lost his phone over New Year’s allowed him to carry out the plan and explain to police why he was not in contact with her. He had a list when he was shopping at Lowe’s.

The prosecutor said their marriage was in “crisis” and that they had argued because Ana was frequently absent for work in Washington D.C. She also claimed Walshe knew his wife was having an affair, which the defense denied.

“Don’t allow the defendant, by dismembering and disposing of Ana Walshe’s body, to evade punishment for this murder,” Jas said.

She urged the jury to use “common sense” and that the evidence would show there is only one verdict – guilty of premeditated first-degree murder.

Defense rests case

The defense concluded on Thursday without calling witnesses. Judge Freniere noted that Brian Walshe appeared set to testify in his own defense, according to the defense’s opening statement, but ultimately backed out.

During the two-week trial in Dedham, surveillance footage was shown depicting a man believed to be Brian Walshe purchasing tools and other supplies on January 1, 2023. A receipt showed the purchase of items such as a hacksaw, knife, hammer, scissors, protective suit, shoe covers, rags, and cleaning supplies totaling $462, paid for in cash.

Additional footage showed someone disposing of trash bags in dumpsters over several days in early January 2023.

Several blood-stained items found in the dumpsters – including a hacksaw, a piece of carpet, a towel, and hair – were linked to Ana Walshe via DNA analysis, a forensic scientist from the Massachusetts State Police crime lab testified. Blood was also found in the basement of their rented home in Cohasset, another forensic scientist confirmed.

Ana Walshe was reported missing on January 4, 2023, by her employer. Brian Walshe then told police that she had a “business emergency” in Washington D.C. and had left the house on New Year’s Day, according to a video of his interview shown in the courtroom.

At the time, Walshe and their three children were living in Massachusetts while he awaited sentencing in a federal fraud case after pleading guilty to selling fake Warhol paintings.

Prior to the murder trial, Walshe admitted to lying to police and improper disposal of a body. His defense claimed he panicked after finding his wife dead, calling her death sudden and unexplained.

The jury heard testimony, including from the man in D.C. Ana was having an affair with, that the mother of three was distressed about being away from her children (then aged 2, 4, and 6), and that the marriage was under stress. The defense claimed they were happy.