The Karen Read Murder Trial: Canton Confidential

Episode: Brian Walshe trial recap: Analyzing testimony from man who had affair with Ana Walshe
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: NBC10 Boston
Main Panelists: Glenn Jones (Host), Margaret “Margo” Lindauer (Attorney/Law Professor), Michael (Chief Legal Analyst), Sue Oono (Courtroom Commentator)

Episode Overview

This episode of Commonwealth Confidential dives into the latest developments in the Brian Walshe murder trial, specifically focusing on the highly anticipated testimony of William Fasto, the man who had an affair with Ana Walshe before her disappearance. The panel analyzes courtroom strategy, explores new testimony, and discusses the ongoing tensions surrounding motive and the state of the evidence. The episode also addresses notable questions from viewers and highlights key strategic moments in the trial.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. William Fasto’s Testimony – The Affair at the Center of the Case

[02:26–05:35, 07:51–08:47, 15:49–17:08]

• Fasto’s Relationship with Ana Walshe

  • Fasto met Ana and Brian through selling them their D.C. home.
  • Their friendship quickly escalated into an affair:

    "We quickly became close friends, then confidants, and before long, we started an intimate relationship." – William Fasto [03:19]

• Frequency and Nature of the Affair

  • Fasto testified he saw Ana "two to three times a week" while she was in D.C.
  • Detailed their outings—dinners, bars, functions.

• Ana’s Marriage & State of Mind

  • Ana expressed deep stress and disappointment, especially relating to:
    • Brian's criminal case and inability to resolve his legal issues
    • The inability to move with her children to D.C.
    • Ongoing frustration about her position in the marriage and as a mother
  • Fasto noted:

    "As time came on, it became a significant issue for her. It deeply upset her, and in time, she was even despondent about it." [04:02]

• Plans for the Future

  • Ana and Fasto discussed a possible life together, including merging families, but she never explicitly said she would "blow up" her marriage for him:

    "She never told you, 'Hey, Will, I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna talk to Brian, I'm gonna blow up my marriage and come be with you.' She never told you that?" – Defense
    "That is correct." – Fasto [04:32–04:35]

• Brian’s Knowledge of the Affair

  • Fasto stated Ana never told him Brian was suspicious, nor did she warn Fasto that Brian knew about the affair:

    "Ana never texted or called me and said that she felt that Brian knew that we were having an affair." – Fasto [04:48]

• Last Contact with Ana & Brian

  • Last received a New Year's text from Ana at midnight.
  • Four days later, Brian left a voicemail, referencing Ana's disappearance [05:08–05:26].

• Panel Analysis of Fasto’s Testimony

  • The panel’s consensus: Fasto came across "very professional, very adult" and credible to the jury. There was no drama or confrontation between Fasto and Brian in the courtroom [08:21–09:28, 16:30–17:08].
  • Sue Oono:

    "He presented like an adult. ...It got a little heated... but he went over well with the jury." [08:21]

2. Why Did Brian Walshe’s Knowledge of the Affair Matter?

[06:19–07:50]

• Establishing Motive

  • Michael (analyst) explains the critical legal question:

    "It provides yet another motive for why he would have killed her, either out of anger or just to try and make sure she didn't move on so quickly." [06:19]

  • Context: Ana as "his meal ticket", mother of his children, and Brian’s probation requirements tied to residency in Massachusetts.

• Did Brian Know Before She Vanished?

  • Margo: There are hints but "We don't know. But there are things that could lead us to believe that he did know," such as Brian calling Fasto directly after Ana's disappearance and knowing his contact information [07:03].

3. Brian Walshe’s Guilty Plea to Certain Charges

[09:28–10:40]

• Plea Details
  • Walshe pled guilty to "misleading police" and "willfully conveying a human body" (i.e., dismembering Ana), but not to murder.
  • Sentencing delayed until after the murder trial; possible sentence up to 20 years if convicted of murder, illustrating the linkage between plea deals and capital offenses.

4. Defense Strategy: Challenging Ana Walshe’s Health

[10:57–12:59]

• Defense Cross-Examining Witnesses on Ana’s Fitness

  • Defense questions whether witnesses are qualified to testify to Ana's health, emphasizing she could have died suddenly from unknown medical causes.
    Example exchange:

    "You're not a doctor." – Defense
    "No." – Witness
    "You’re not a nurse."
    "I am not." [10:57–11:15]

  • The panel notes that the prosecution witnesses consistently describe Ana as "fit" and healthy, making the defense's theory a "tall order" for the jury, but sudden, unexplained deaths are not unheard of [11:44–12:59].

5. Pace of the Trial & Witness List Comparison

[12:59–14:02]

• Seven Witnesses Testified in Just One Day
  • Sue: The pace is "excellent," keeping jurors engaged and fitting witnesses into the narrative efficiently.
  • Contrast drawn with the Karen Read case, where cross-examinations were much longer and more combative.

6. Viewer Questions and Legal Nuances

[17:08–18:55, 19:20–20:12]

• Why Doesn’t Brian Reveal Where He Disposed of the Body?

  • Michael: Brian can invoke his Fifth Amendment right; disclosing details could further incriminate him or worsen his legal situation. Revealing the body's location could lead to new damaging evidence [17:48].

• Rosary Beads in Court

  • Margo: Concern expressed over Brian holding rosary beads ("surprised myself and shocked they were allowed"), as personal displays in court could sway the jury. Observed that the beads were no longer present after initial hearings, likely due to intervention [19:20].

7. Portrayals of Brian and Ana Walshe as Parents

[20:12–22:24]

• Testimony About Brian’s Fatherhood

  • Kindercare manager testified to "normal fatherly" behavior—picking up kids, inquiring about their day.
  • Sue: "He seemed to be a capable and responsible father." [20:34]

• Humanizing Ana Walshe

  • Expectation that prosecution will eventually present Ana as a sympathetic, relatable person, "a mom … three young kids … commuting back and forth" [21:27–21:44].
  • The judge allowed some witnesses to describe Ana as "warm" and "friendly", though defense objected [22:05–22:10].

8. Courtroom Dynamics and Environment

[22:24–23:21]

• Discussion about the appropriateness of the jury/defendant/witness positioning in the courtroom, referencing legal drama from the Karen Read trial.
• Panel concludes that "there's no problem whatsoever" with visibility or constitutional rights [22:45–23:07].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ana’s feelings about her marriage:

  "The biggest stressor was his inability to resolve his criminal case and the fact that because of that, she couldn't be with her children... It felt like it was holding up her life." – William Fasto [03:41]

• On the legal significance of Brian’s knowledge:

  "How did he know to call him, for example? How did he know his number?" – Margo [07:03]

• On plea and sentencing tactics:

  "If in fact he's convicted, there's no doubt then it's a capital offense and she can sentence him to the full 20 year period." – Michael [10:01]

• On the balance of medical testimony:

  "It's this question of whether they believe that it is possible that this young, fit woman just happened to pass away overnight. It's not a common thing to happen." – Margo [11:44]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:19] Fasto testifies about the affair and Ana’s state of mind
• [04:32] Defense presses on whether Ana was planning to leave her marriage
• [05:08] Fasto recounts last message from Ana; Brian's subsequent voicemail
• [06:19] Panel discusses relevance of Brian’s knowledge of the affair to motive
• [07:03] Margo questions how Brian knew to contact Fasto
• [08:21] Sue describes how Fasto came across to the jury
• [10:01] Michael explains sentencing dynamics
• [11:44] Panel debates the “sudden death” defense
• [12:59] Jury engagement and pace of witnesses
• [17:48] Why Brian hasn’t told authorities where Ana's body is
• [19:20] Rosary beads in court discussion
• [20:34] Testimony about Brian Walshe as a father
• [21:27] Will prosecution humanize Ana Walshe?
• [22:45] Courtroom layout discussion

Tone, Style, and Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, the panel maintains a matter-of-fact, analytical tone, balancing legal dissection with accessible explanations for lay listeners. The exchanges are collegial but occasionally highlight pointed legal disagreements and strategic critiques, peppered with dry courtroom humor ("good TV drama, but that's about it" – Michael [23:07]).

The complexities of motive, family dynamics, and circumstantial evidence are presented with nuance, and questions from the public steer the discussion to practical and ethical questions that lie beyond the strict letter of the law.

End of Episode Summary