On the fourth day of Brian Walshe’s first-degree homicide trial, Ana Walshe’s lover spoke about their relationship and the stress within the Walshe marriage.
Walshe is accused of killing his spouse Ana Walshe in January 2023. He pleaded responsible final month to mendacity to police and illegally disposing of her physique, however claims he had nothing to do along with her dying.
William Fastow advised the Norfolk Superior Court docket jury their affair started after Ana Walshe moved right into a D.C. townhouse he offered her within the spring of 2022.
The pair went to dinner and flicks, sailed in Annapolis, Maryland, and labored out collectively.
Fastow stated he took her to his work capabilities and socialized together with his mates, however they didn’t socialize with hers.
In the course of the course of their relationship, Fastow stated that Ana Walshe confided in him about Brian Walshe’s authorized bother. Walshe had pleaded responsible to federal fraud prices, and his dwelling confinement was predicated on being the first caretaker for the couple’s three boys. That meant the youngsters needed to reside in Cohasset, which made Ana Walshe unhappy, Fastow stated.
Over time she grew to become “despondent” over the state of affairs, he testified. “It deeply upset her.”
Ana Walshe had advised Fastow she hoped that her husband would keep away from jail time for the federal fraud prices and that the household would then relocate to the D.C. townhouse. However in July of 2022, when Brian Walshe’s sentencing was pushed again, that purpose appeared farther from attain. It was then, Fastow stated, that his relationship with Ana grew to become extra critical and he lower off seeing anybody else.
The largest stressor in Ana Walshe’s life was not having the ability to resolve Brian Walshe’s federal case, Fastown stated: “She felt it was holding up her life.”
By the autumn, the 2 had been spending holidays collectively. They went to Dublin, Eire, for Thanksgiving. A rendezvous in D.C., on Dec. 24 and subsequent snowfall made Ana Walshe miss Christmas Day along with her husband and the children in Cohasset.
Fastow stated that Ana Walshe advised him her absence upset her husband and that they’d argued about it.
Over the winter vacation, whereas Fastow was together with his youngsters in Idaho and Ana Walshe was in Cohasset, they texted one another. Her final message got here in simply after midnight on Jan. 1, 2023, wishing him a cheerful New 12 months.
The primary few days of the 12 months, Fastow continued to textual content and name Ana Walshe, however she didn’t reply, he stated. Worrying that she had blocked his quantity, he even tried calling her landline, however there was nonetheless no response.
On Jan. 4, 2023, the day Ana was reported lacking, Brian Walshe known as Fastow. Fastow declined at first, for concern Brian was calling to confront him concerning the affair.
“Sorry to bother you, sure everything is fine,” Brian stated in a voicemail after his second name, explaining that Ana Walshe was lacking.
Fastow instantly known as again, then checked the storage at Ana’s townhouse for her automotive, utilizing a code Brian gave him. However she wasn’t there then, and nonetheless wasn’t there when he checked again later within the day.
Fastow and Ana Walshe had been presupposed to get dinner collectively that night time. She had booked her flight to D.C., and Fastow had made a restaurant reservation. They had been supposed to speak about their future collectively, he stated, however they by no means acquired the possibility.
On cross-examination, Brian Walshe’s protection legal professional Kelli Porges pushed again on how detailed the couple’s future plans had been, getting Fastow to testify that they weren’t “concrete.”
Fastow stated stated that Ana Walshe had needed to determine what would occur with Brian Walshe and his case. Fastow stated he had his personal considerations about how his oldest baby would react to information that he was in a brand new relationship.
“During your conversations or time with Ana Walshe, she never told you Brian Walshe was suspicious of you?” Porges requested.
Fastow talked about that Brian Walshe as soon as known as him whereas he and Ana Walshe had been out to dinner, which was uncommon. The 2 males had solely spoken on the cellphone just a few instances and by no means met in individual. Fastow didn’t reply. Brian Walshe allegedly later advised his spouse that one of many youngsters had taken his cellphone and made the decision by chance.
“That’s the closest thing that happened where we were concerned that Brian had found out,” Fastow testified.
“I’m not asking if you felt concerned, I mean you were having an illicit affair, you’re always kinda concerned someone’s going to find out, right?” Porges requested.
“I mean, I suppose,” Fastow replied, including that Ana Walshe had by no means advised him that she was fearful Brian Walshe knew about their relationship.
Along with testimony from Fastow, jurors additionally heard proof that Brian’s cellphone was tracked to a trash compactor the place police later discovered brown-red stained clothes and rug samples, sawing instruments, and a Tyvek swimsuit.
The cellphone proof additionally confirmed a safari seek for “William Fastow” from Brian’s cellphone on Jan. 4, the day Ana was reported lacking and the 2 males ended up speaking on the cellphone.
Testimony on the cellular phone knowledge will proceed in court docket on Friday.
