Brit Guilty Of Slaying Wife, Baby In Mass.

Jury Rejects Defense Argument That Rachel Entwistle Killed The Child, Then Shot Herself

(CBS/ AP)  For more than two years, Neil Entwistle told the same story: He came home from running errands and found his wife and baby daughter cuddled in bed, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Never did Entwistle suggest who might have killed his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose - not to investigators during taped interviews and apparently not to his family or friends who rallied to his defense.

But in the final days of his trial, his lawyers floated a stunning theory: Rachel Entwistle had killed their baby, then committed suicide.

Jurors rejected that defense and on Wednesday convicted Entwistle of two counts of first-degree murder and two weapons charges.

Under state law, he must be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing was scheduled for Thursday morning.

Entwistle, 29, closed his eyes and shook his head slightly as the jury foreman announced the verdict.

His parents left the courtroom insisting that their son is innocent.

"We know that our son Neil is innocent, and we are devastated to learn that the evidence points to Rachel murdering our grandchild and then committing suicide," Yvonne Entwistle said outside Middlesex Superior Court.

"I knew Rachel was depressed. Our son will now go to jail for loving, honoring and protecting his wife's memory," she said.

Joseph Matterazzo, the victim's stepfather, declined to comment on the verdict, but thanked supporters, including the students at St. Augustine's Catholic High School in Droitwich, England, where she had taught English.

District Attorney Gerry Leone denounced Entwistle for blaming his wife for the killings.

"I condemn Neil Entwistle for compounding the unspeakable nature of what he has done by disparaging the memory of his wife and vilifying the entire Matterazzo family by his decisions during the course of this trial," he said.

The couple met at the University of York, England, in 1999, where Rachel, who grew up in Kingston, Mass., had enrolled for a year of study. They lived in England for several years before returning to the United States so they could raise their daughter near Rachel's family.

Prosecutors said Neil Entwistle slid into a downward spiral soon after the move. He had been unable to find a job, had failed at several Internet businesses and had just moved into a $2,700-per-month rented home.

People who knew the couple testified that they appeared to have a happy marriage and were thrilled with their daughter.

But a police detective testified that computer records showed Neil Entwistle trolled the Internet for escort services and joined an online swingers' site, where he posted a profile saying he was an Englishman who was looking to meet "American women of all ages" for sex.

What's even more disturbing, reports CBS News Early Show anchor Jeff Glor, prosecutors say Entwistle searched the web using the words: "how to kill with a knife."

Prosecutors argued that Entwistle, debt-ridden and dissatisfied with his sex life, fired his father-in-law's .22-caliber handgun into his daughter's chest and then shot his wife in the head. He flew on a one-way ticket to England a day after the Jan. 20, 2006, killings, they said.

The defense called no witnesses during the trial.

Neil Entwistle's Defense attorney Elliot Weinstein defended that decision in an interview with Glor on Thursday morning's Early Show.

"It's absolutely important that the prosecution prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt," Weinstein said. "A defendant, neither Neil Entwistle, nor any defendant, should be required or expected to put forward evidence."

Jurors listened to three hours of recorded phone conversations Entwistle had with a state trooper in the week after the fatal shootings.

He stammered after Sgt. Robert Manning asked him repeatedly if he had done something "out of character" the day his wife and daughter were killed.

"No, no, no," he said.

"Of course, no, I couldn't do that. Why would I do that?"

On the recording, Entwistle struggles to explain why he never called police or sought medical help for his wife and daughter. He explains that he returned the gun used to kill them to his father-in-law's house 50 miles away in an effort to preserve his wife's honor. He says he flew to England because he needed to be consoled by his parents.

"Looking back on it, I don't know why I did things in the way that I did," he tells the trooper.

Entwistle never mentioned the murder-suicide theory during his statements to police.

Weinstein, told the jury that police failed to consider suicide because they immediately focused on his client as a suspect.

"Everything that Neil did after finding Rachel and Lillian in that bedroom, he did because he loved them," Weinstein said.

Joe Flaherty, the spokesperson for Rachel Entwistle's family told Glor that every first degree murder case in Massachusetts is an automatic appeal.

"We remain confident going forward that we will get a reversal because of the rulings on unlawful search of that home in Hopkinton and that's really what our focus will be going forward," Weinstein told Glor.

The two and a half week trial gained international attention, reports CBS affiliate WBZ-TV. It was broadcast live on TruTV and media from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean arrived at the Woburn courthouse each day.

[petro49l]

Entwistle should be castrated and lobotomized by the State. There is no reason to tolerate deliberate, malicious murder.

[avigil2]

To Edgar Debbins: what caveman rock did you come under from?

[jegibbons]

The Jury Got This One Right! Justice is served.

[shippg-2009]

This news site is slow. The sentence has already been passed.

"A British man convicted of shooting to death his 9-month-old baby and American wife as they cuddled together in bed showed no reaction Thursday as he was sentenced to two life prison terms without the opportunity for parole."

[edgardebbins]

This fella should not have hurt anyone. Wasn''t necessary. All he had to do was sit her down and say "Listen up wife. This is how its going to be. I''m the man of this house and you will do exactly what you are told. No more disrespect. No more disobedience. You will stop blowing my money and getting us further into debt. You will indulge my conjugal rights like a good wife, at least 3 times a week. When I command, you will obey and you will obey immediately. Now shut up and get busy." If he had just taken this simple approach, everybody would be alive and happy. Its just such a shame that all men are not adequately trained on how to properly take corrective action with a disobedient wife.

[terrorislami]

f''n limeys,,,

[sjw1253]

Regarding the type of people who respond to the stories and CBS vs CNN...

I read both CBS & CNN. I have learned to limit the number of replies I read and post only once in a while.

There are many people who reply who are totally ignorant and I believe there are many others who post replies that they might not even believe - but know that the more ridicuous their replies - the more attention they will get.

I have tried to learn that it is not worth getting myself upset over the absurd comments made by people who may imply that a victim was responsible for the acts of a violent human being.

Why people do this as well as why someone kills his wife and child are mysteries to me... There clearly is a narcicistic mentality involved and I just hope that I can steer clear of people such as this in my personal interactions in my life.

People who do things like this are clearly people unworthy of interacting with.

[docpeter-2009]

RE: american30 wrote, "Anyways it give him no right to kill her or the baby that is why the great US invented DIVORCE!"

Actually, divorce dates back to before Jesus'' time, somewhere to Moses. Read the New Testament.

[vranger]

And oh by the way, for that Nelson idiot. Americans have NEVER advocated or defended pedophilia or child killing, either in America or ANYWHERE ELSE in the world. To suggest so in a post is one of the most stupid flames I''ve ever encountered.

In fact, the USA, through the initiation of public and private social agencies abroad, and support of UN agencies, has done more to improve the lot of children worldwide than any other society, ever.

You want to name some countries who thrive by looking the other way concerning child abouse? Look towards Africa and SE Asia.

[vranger]

I used to frequent CNN.com instead of the CBS News website. In reading reader responses on CNN, I used to wonder how they could draw such an ignorant, illiterate group of people, whose other drawback is that they couldn''t think their way thru any sort of political or social situation to have a clue about what was really going on.

Now that I have read the posts regarding this story, I sadly have come to the conclusion that CNN draws the geniuses. I have NEVER read such a load of idiiotic, illiterate tripe in my ENTIRE LIFE as appears in the majority of comments to this one story.

Although CBS does a marginally better job of reporting news compared to CNN, NEVER again will I be tempted to put myself through reading what the CBS readers ''think'' about it. LOL

[american30]

I can''t believe people are actually putting blame on the wife! Some men expect some really sick things. I would speculate that if he visits the websites they say that he is one of the weird ones so why did he get married. Anyways it give him no right to kill her or the baby that is why the great US invented DIVORCE!

[formrusmcsgt]

Our son will now go to jail for loving, honoring and protecting his wife''s memory," she said.
----
No, he''ll go to jail because he''s a double-murderer.

[gmond]

Was this guy''s mother at a different trial?

[smurfcrusher]

Nystar1881: I guess you didn''t read this story.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/24/grad.student.torture.ap/index.html

[smurfcrusher]

GUILTY!

Hmm, maybe in his mind he might finally make the connection that he shouldn''t murder innocent people.

Nah. I doubt he''s capable.

[blackyowe]

I think this case was pretty obvious. I don''t think anyone ever thought this man didn''t do it but his silly parents. They made this man so cold hearted in the first place as they raised him. They probably always believed his lies.

[pjh822]

I stated FACTUALLY that americans are always defending paedophilia and the murder of little kids when those crimes are committed by americans. If you don''''t like reading facts I suggest you go read posts by your fellow americans



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Posted by Nelson5714 at 06:17 PM : Jun 25, 2008
+ report abuse

Is that why Louise Woodward, an English nanny, is living free now after killing an American infant, Matthew Eappon, back in 1997 (also in Massachusetts, by the way)? Yes, Judge Zobel really taught her a lesson by letting her off the hook in spite of a guilty verdict returned by the jury, didn''t he?

[barbaraf4]

"Have s e x with your husband! Which part of that don''t you understand? Isn''t that what marriage is all about? Regular s e x. Do you need an engraved invitation and a bottle of chilled Moet et Chandon? Is it that painful & disgusting for you? You''re always too busy, tired or have a headache. Enough. Get with the program. Your husband is not a eunuch." Posted by Keithle1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This sounds like it hits a little too close to home; however, marriage counselling sometimes helps.

[rudy654-2009]

that americans are always defending paedophilia and the murder of little kids when those crimes are committed by americans. Nelson5714
*************

Have you been eating a little too much of the marmite?

[hedonist3]

ltiafau - I do absolutely everything my husband tells me -- however, he is very selecive in his demands. "Pack your bags; we''re going to the beach." Or, "Put on your shoes, we''re going out to dinner." It''s the vinegar and honey theory, but some men just refuse to get it.

As for the piece of vermin in the article, hope he roasts.