Courtroom Confidential

Sandra Birchmore’s final recorded phone activity came minutes before Matthew Farwell left her apartment building, according to testimony discussed in this episode. What does that timeline establish, and how could the defense challenge its significance? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins attorney Randolph Rice to examine the competing interpretations, William Kilroy’s testimony and the defense’s effort to raise reasonable doubt. Farwell has pleaded not guilty.

Then, Josh and Randolph examine Lindsay Clancy’s latest criminal-case filings ahead of the November 2 hearing. They debate the jury notes, whether the judge should have questioned the holdout juror again, the defense’s double-jeopardy argument and the proposed gag order. 

Jump to 22:44 for the Clancy discussion.

0:00 Cold Open: Matthew Farwell’s Defense
1:28 Welcome and Show Preview
3:37 The Prosecution Rests; Randolph Rice Joins Josh
4:43 Was Sandra Birchmore’s Death a Homicide?
7:27 The Phone Evidence and Surveillance Timeline
10:12 How the Defense Could Interpret the Timeline
12:38 Circumstantial Evidence and Reasonable Doubt
13:59 Search History and the Defense’s Argument
17:34 William Kilroy’s Testimony
20:36 Weighing the Evidence and Upcoming Witnesses
22:44 Lindsay Clancy: The Fight Over a Retrial
24:07 Manifest Necessity and Double Jeopardy
30:02 The Jury Notes and the Judge’s Response
33:06 Should the Holdout Juror Have Been Questioned Again?
38:31 The Defense’s Latest Filing
40:57 The Proposed Gag Order
44:41 Possible Further Review and Juror Privacy
46:50 Guest Wrap-Up
47:40 Hero of the Week: Ibro Ahmed
51:43 Announcements and Upcoming Coverage

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Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true-crime cases.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by watching this video.

FAIR USE NOTICE: These videos might include copyrighted materials that have not been explicitly authorized by the copyright owner. We are providing these materials for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, research and news reporting, which fall under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.

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Nearly 15 years after Michelle Parker vanished, what finally changed in the case against her former fiancé? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins investigative reporter and Body Bags podcast co-host Dave Mack to examine the newly unsealed arrest affidavit, the disputed timeline, phone evidence and questions surrounding the original investigation. Dale Smith Jr. has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Parker’s body has never been found.

Then, Josh examines the latest testimony in Matthew Farwell’s federal trial over Sandra Birchmore’s death, including the medical examiner’s changed finding, William Farwell’s testimony under immunity and a strangulation expert’s interpretation of the physical evidence. What supports the prosecution’s account, and what remains contested? Jump to 31:17 for the Farwell discussion.

0:00 Cold Open: An Arrest Nearly 15 Years Later
1:24 Welcome and Show Preview
3:47 Sponsor: Zocdoc
4:51 Michelle Parker: Case Overview
6:11 Dave Mack Joins Josh
7:33 The People’s Court Connection
11:26 The Disputed Timeline and Phone Evidence
15:48 Photographed Injuries and Unanswered Questions
18:32 Prior Allegations of Domestic Violence
24:19 Missing Physical Evidence and the Waterford Text
27:28 The Vehicle, Removed Decal and Forensic Technology
31:17 Matthew Farwell: Trial Update
32:57 The Counselor’s Cross-Examination
37:26 Why the Medical Examiner Changed Her Finding
42:22 William Farwell’s Testimony
47:19 The Strangulation Expert’s Evidence
50:56 Josh’s Assessment and What Comes Next
53:59 Announcements and Upcoming Coverage

Join Courtroom Confidential for a closer look at what prosecutors allege, what the evidence supports and what remains in dispute.

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True crime, legal analysis, and YOUR questions—LIVE! Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions on the biggest cases in true crime.

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FAIR USE NOTICE: These videos might include copyrighted materials that have not been explicitly authorized by the copyright owner. We are providing these materials for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, research and news reporting, which fall under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

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Miguel Salguero-Olivares has been found guilty in the murder of Faith Hedgepeth. After a trial centered on DNA evidence, disputed testimony and questions about the investigation, Joshua Ritter welcomes Scott from Recovery Addict to break down the verdict, assess the defense’s strategy of calling no witnesses, and discuss the questions that remain.

Then, Boston criminal defense attorney Elyse Hershon joins Josh to discuss the Matthew Farwell trial, including testimony from the father of Sandra Birchmore’s unborn child, challenges to his credibility, and what the forensic evidence means for the prosecution’s case.

About Joshua Ritter:
Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true crime cases.

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Jump to the Faith Hedgepeth discussion: 26:45.

The defense rested without calling a single witness. What can its lawyers still accomplish in closing? Joshua Ritter and Scott of Recovery Addict examine the decision not to present witnesses, the risks of putting the defendant on the stand, and whether prosecutors’ efforts to establish a connection between Miguel Salguero-Olivares and Faith distracted from their strongest evidence.

Also, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney R.J. Dreiling joins Josh to examine Matthew Farwell’s federal trial, including the original investigation into Sandra Birchmore’s death, the dispatcher’s testimony, and the distinction between evidence of motive and proof of murder.

0:00 Cold Open: The Defense Calls No Witnesses
1:13 Welcome and Show Preview
3:24 Sponsor: Zocdoc
5:00 Matthew Farwell: Grooming Allegations and Case Overview
6:11 R.J. Dreiling: Challenging the Original Investigation
10:59 The Dispatcher’s Call and Competing Interpretations
13:27 Motive, Other Affairs and Proof of Murder
20:28 Mental Health Evidence and Jury Selection
26:45 Faith Hedgepeth with Scott of Recovery Addict
34:46 The Surprise Decision, Closing Arguments and Reasonable Doubt

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Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true-crime cases.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by watching this video.

FAIR USE NOTICE: These videos might include copyrighted materials that have not been explicitly authorized by the copyright owner. We are providing these materials for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, research and news reporting, which fall under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.

#FaithHedgepeth #MatthewFarwell #SandraBirchmore #TrueCrime

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The prosecution has rested in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial, but did it leave the defense an opening? CBS 17 reporter Deana Harley joins criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter to examine the DNA evidence, unanswered questions about Miguel Salguero-Olivares’ connection to Faith, and the revelation that a computer image discussed as handwriting evidence was actually an internet meme. Which gaps could matter to jurors, and which leave the prosecution’s strongest evidence intact?

Plus, investigative reporter and YouTube host Gavin Fish joins Josh to discuss Matthew Farwell’s federal trial. They examine communications involving Sandra Birchmore’s pregnancy and threats to disclose their relationship, the prosecution’s alleged motive, and the defense’s argument that the original suicide determination was correct.

0:00 Intro
1:23 Welcome and Show Preview
3:25 Faith Hedgepeth: The Case Against Salguero-Olivares
4:00 Deana Harley: Why the State Rested So Quickly
7:38 Unanswered Questions vs. Reasonable Doubt
13:00 The Cookout Witness and Missing Connections
19:30 Handwriting Evidence and Disputed Testimony
23:00 The Internet Meme and the Jail-Call Note
29:30 What Comes Next for the Defense?
31:22 Matthew Farwell: Case Overview
31:54 Gavin Fish Joins Josh
37:45 Secrecy, Disclosure and the Prosecution’s Motive Argument
44:45 Pregnancy Messages and Future Obligations
48:47 Jury Discussion and Other-Affair Testimony
53:15 The Defense Theory and the Original Investigation
1:02:20 Sponsor: Aura
1:03:50 Announcements and Upcoming Coverage

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Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true crime cases.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by watching this video.

FAIR USE NOTICE: These videos might include copyrighted materials that have not been explicitly authorized by the copyright owner. We are providing these materials for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, research and news reporting, which fall under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law.

#FaithHedgepeth #MatthewFarwell #SandraBirchmore #TrueCrime

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Can a juror be removed for refusing to agree with everyone else? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions about the Lindsay Clancy juror controversy, the distinction between disagreement and misconduct, and the challenges of protecting jurors in a closely watched case.

In this Sunday Funday Q&A, Josh also explores the difference between “not guilty” and “innocent,” questions surrounding Christa Pike’s failed execution, the federal case against Matthew Farwell, and the limits on pointing to another suspect in the Faith Hedgepeth trial.

0:00 Welcome to Sunday Funday
2:12 Lindsay Clancy: Holdout Jurors and Jury Privacy
13:03 Would Professional Jurors Work?
19:31 “Innocent” vs. “Not Guilty” and Defense Ethics
30:03 Physical Evidence and Body Language Experts
38:09 Patrick Clancy and Scrutiny of the Family
41:11 Kouri Richins: Charges Against Law Enforcement Officers
48:16 Christa Pike: A Veterinarian’s Question
55:00 Rapid-Fire Questions: Jury Duty and Prosecution Appeals
1:06:25 Could Christa Pike Sue?
1:09:41 Tomasz Kosowski: The DNA Question
1:13:57 Faith Hedgepeth: Limits on Blaming Another Suspect
1:22:28 Christa Pike and the Willie Francis Precedent
1:31:00 Caleb Flynn’s Interviews and Sentencing Behavior
1:36:27 Matthew Farwell: What Makes It a Federal Case?
1:46:28 Faith Hedgepeth: The Defendant’s Courtroom Notes
1:57:39 Why Prosecutors Can Sometimes Ask Leading Questions
2:02:11 Unusual Laws and Closing Announcements

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Alex Murdaugh’s defense has been allowed to pursue additional testing of DNA recovered from beneath Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. But could finding an answer weaken the defense instead of helping it? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains why unidentified DNA can create an argument for reasonable doubt, and why identifying its source could change that argument.

On location in Lexington, South Carolina, Josh breaks down the October 16 hearing, including the DNA-testing dispute, requests for ballistics and crime-scene data, and the judge’s insistence on keeping the retrial on schedule. He examines what the defense hopes to learn, the risks of further testing and why another person’s DNA would not, by itself, establish who committed the killings.

About Joshua Ritter:
Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true crime cases.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by watching this video.

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Miguel Salguero-Olivares denied knowing Faith Hedgepeth, but jurors have now heard testimony linking his palm print and thumbprint to a wine bottle found in her bedroom. What do those matches establish, and what remains unresolved? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter welcomes Joel Waldman of Surviving the Survivor to examine the latest evidence and the defense’s response.

Also, Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz discusses the cancellation of Bryan Kohberger’s upcoming hearings, and LA Mag Senior Editor Michele McPhee joins Josh to examine testimony in Matthew Farwell’s federal trial and scrutiny of the original investigation into Sandra Birchmore’s death.

About Joshua Ritter:
Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true-crime cases.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is for educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by watching this video.

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Did Matthew Farwell’s defense open the door to testimony from three other women? Federal prosecutors are challenging his attorney’s opening statement, asking to introduce evidence of other alleged affairs and accusing the defense of citing text messages they say do not exist. What could these disputes mean for the jury and the case over Sandra Birchmore’s death?

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter is joined by attorney Randolph Rice to examine the prosecution’s new motions, the defense’s strategy, and what the judge’s decisions could mean as testimony begins.

Also tonight: Paul of  @Reportinglivefrommysofa   joins us to discuss the latest testimony and evidence in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial, plus a preview of the Leigha Mumby vehicular homicide trial ahead of opening statements.

Join Courtroom Confidential LIVE at 5pm PT / 8pm ET for the evidence, legal arguments, and questions that could shape these cases.

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Joshua Ritter is a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor providing legal commentary and analysis on the nation’s biggest true crime cases.

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