SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A verdict was reached Wednesday in the trial of Brian Fanion, a former Westfield police detective accused of killing his wife in a death that was originally thought to be a suicide.
In Hampden Superior Court, Fanion was been found guilty of murder in the 1st-degree and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“Mr. Fanion’s behavior was calculating and shockingly cruel. I commend the members of the jury who saw through his defense and held him accountable. This result illustrates that no matter your position or power, justice is blind. I thank our entire team, especially Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom for her phenomenal efforts and commitment to justice for Amy.”
ANTHONY GULLUNI, HAMPDEN DISTRICT ATTORNEY
The jury in this case returned the verdict just a few hours into the second day of deliberation. The defense in response says they got it wrong.
“Your honor, the jury plainly got it wrong. Anyone who truly knows Amy Fanion and Brian Fanion knows that Brian did not shoot his wife Amy,” said Defense Attorney Jeffrey Brown following the verdict.
The murder trial began nearly a month ago on February 21st in the 2018 death of his wife, Amy Fanion. He was found guilty of killing her during an argument while he was home on a lunch break.
Amy’s death was initially ruled a suicide, by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Brian’s department-issued handgun was the weapon used. The toxicology report stated that there were no substances found in Amy’s system.
Internet Searches
Assistant DA Mary Sandstrom said that Fanion did not want to give up half of his pension to his wife. Sandstrom cited internet searches on Brian’s work computer at the Westfield Police Department that included the effects of divorce on a pension.
Investigators also allegedly found video internet searches were done for “GSR,” also known as gunshot residue, days and hours before Amy’s death. Sandstrom claims that Brian would not have had to look up those videos at work because he was not assigned to any investigations during that time period relating to gunshot residue.
Other searches on that computer included household poisons and other things that people could easily overdose on, according to Sandstrom.
