What’s Brian Walshe’s defense in his murder trial? His wife had a ‘sudden, unexplained death.’

In his opening statement as Brian Walshe’s murder trial got underway Monday, Walshe’s lawyer, Larry Tipton, acknowledged that Walshe had repeatedly lied to investigators after his wife’s death, had bought various tools and cleaning supplies at hardware stores, and had made troubling Internet searches “as he wrestled with the fact that Ana Walshe was dead.”

But Tipton said his client was not responsible for her death, saying Walshe discovered her unresponsive in bed, and described their relationship as loving.

Walshe is charged with killing his wife after a New Year’s party in January 2023. He initially pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, conveying a body, and misleading investigators, but on Nov. 18, just before jury selection began, Walshe pleaded guilty to the lesser two counts