Retired Westfield police officer found guilty of first-degree murder

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A retired Westfield police officer has been found guilty of murdering his wife back in 2018.

Brian Fanion sat in handcuffs for the first time in nearly five years on Wednesday as he awaited his sentencing on Wednesday. He was placed in custody after a jury found him guilty. The Commonwealth proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he shot and killed his wife, Amy Fanion, back in May 2018.

“I ask that you impose the mandatory sentence, pursuant to the law, and that you sentence this defendant to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life,” said Hampden Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom.

The trial went on for more than three weeks and closing arguments were heard on Monday. Fanion’s defense argued that Amy shot and killed herself and that Brian could not have committed this crime.

“Your honor, the jury got it wrong. Anyone that truly knew Amy Fanion and Brian Fanion knows that Brian Fanion did not shoot his wife Amy,” said defense attorney Jeffrey Brown.

The jury deliberated all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning. They could’ve found Brian Fanion guilty of second-degree murder, but their verdict shows they believe he planned to kill his wife. The prosecution argued his motive was that he was having an affair and did not want to share his pension with his wife.

“She was a gift and now, as the evidence in this case has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, she is no longer here because this defendant chose to intentionally deprive the world, her family, her children, her grandchildren, of that gift,” Sandstrom added.

Fanion’s sentence of life in prison without the opportunity for parole is the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder.

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