Brian Walshe Defense Seeks Murder Charge Dismissal Cohasset Case

Brian Walshe, accused of murdering and dismembering his wife Ana Walshe in their Cohasset home on New Year’s Day 2023, faces a murder trial in October. His defense attorneys have filed motions to dismiss the first-degree murder charge and limit prosecution arguments, contending there is insufficient evidence of premeditation, malice, or extreme atrocity, and disputing that Walshe knew about his wife's alleged affair. Prosecutors cite Walshe’s access to Ana's messages, his internet searches on how to dispose of a body, trips to dumpsters, and tensions from a federal art fraud case as indications of guilt. Defense attorneys counter that the searches occurred after Ana's death and challenge the reliability and legality of some evidence, including search warrants on family electronic devices. The judge noted that evidence such as Walshe’s access to his wife’s communications and his researching the affair partner's name supports the prosecution’s case. The body of Ana Walshe has not been found, and the case involves complex questions about the timeline and motivations underlying the alleged murder.