Neil Entwistle Murder Case
Neil Entwistle is accused of killing his wife, Rachel, 27, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in their Hopkinton home in Jan. 20, 2006. Autopsy results showed that Rachel died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the baby died of a gunshot wound to the stomach.
Just hours after the deaths of his wife and daughter, Entwistle purchased a one-way ticket to London about 5:00 AM EST on the morning of January 21, and boarded a British Airways flight that left at 8:15 AM.
Once he was found in England, he told the police that he had gone out to run an errand that day and came home to find his wife and child murdered. He said he covered his wife and child with a blanket and was so distraught that he decided to kill himself with a knife. When he couldn’t bring himself to do that he drove to his father-in-laws house to get a .22 caliber handgun, but the house was locked, so he decided to fly to England to talk with his parents.
Entwistle's DNA was found on the handle of the same .22 handgun owned by his father-in-law that he told authorities he'd never touched. Additionally, DNA matching his slain wife Rachel was found on the gun's muzzle. Also, s set of keys to Materazzo's house were found in the car Entwistle left at Boston's Logan Airport.
Entwistle was an out of work computer programmer. The computer search done on Entwistle’s computer revealed that he had looked at a website that described “how to kill people and searched for escort services.
Entwistle was arrested on February 9, 2006 in London and extradited back to the US.
It was announced on March 14, 2008 that he will stand trial for murder on June 2, 2008.
Resources...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11252372/
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1080297&srvc=home&position=recent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Entwistle
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1309317,00.html?f=rss
UPDATES
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06/27/08
Neil Entwistle Aftermath
Neil Entwisle's jury gives their response
Tears streamed down Entwistle's face as he listened to Rachel's mother's victim impact....... oh... ok... I'm being facetious! But, the picture was taken the day of his sentencing.
A few of the six women and six men jury spoke out about their deliberations and experience in the Neil Entwistle trial.
Even though the defense has said that the jury was biased in their verdict against Entwistle, one woman said they began by examining the defense's theory that Rachel Entwistle shot her baby and then herself. The jury even went so far as to have one member who was about the same height as Rachel Entwistle act out such a murder-suicide.
She said the jury, after weighing ballistic and forensic evidence, concluded that a murder-suicide was not logistically possible. Jurors then considered if anyone else might have committed the crimes. But they were convinced, she said, that "there was no evidence anyone else had been in the house" around the time of the killings on Jan. 20, 2006.
"We tried to look at every aspect and analyze all the evidence that was put before us, because we wanted it to be a fair trial," the juror said. "Nobody came into this thinking automatically that he was guilty. Everybody was in different places at the beginning."
She said that jury was not influenced by one of the prosecution's main points, that Neil Entwistle did not call police after discovering the bodies and instead flew to his parents' house in England.
Read more details of juror's responces here...
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/26/entwistle_convicted_of_murder/
Family Speaks out to Entwistle...
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/state/x2010597848/Family-members-explain-feelings-to-Entwistle
More links...
This one made me giggle...
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=11585
More...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25385266/
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1103418
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1320083,00.html
06/25/08
The jury has come back with a verdict in the Entwistle, case. Guilty in the first degree on all charges! It was a nerve racking time for trial watchers today, waiting for the verdict. Sentencing and the family and friends will be giving their impact statements tomorrow at 10:00am EDT.
06/24/08
It was a nerve racking time for trial watchers to day. The jury requested a receipt and some computer information today, and then adjourned for the day not long after, at about 4:20pm ET. Jury deliberations will continue in the morning at 9:00am ET.
Join us in Chat as we wait for the verdict to come in!
06/23/08
No Defense Case
Prosecution and Defense rest
Just as we wondered what the defense was going bring to the table, they came up empty.
No experts, no doctors, no Neil Entwistle.... nothing!
The defense went first in their closing argument. He portrayed Rachel as possibly having post part-em depression and the one who killed her baby and herself.
Attorney Elliot Weinstein went on to say that Neil Entwistle did find the bodies, but returned the gun to her parent's home so they wouldn't find out that Rachel had stolen the weapon and then committed a murder suicide. He was protecting her honor.
Then he pointed to the paper Neil had written out showing his intention of selling his story to the highest bidder.
The prosecutor, Michael Fabbri, said that Weinstein's argument made "no sense". He said that it was unreasonable to find bubbles coming out of your own baby's mouth and not call 911.
"Why would Rachel commit suicide? Is there any evidence before you that suggests she had the desire or intent to commit suicide?", he questioned. "She was back home. She had her car. She had her family and what she thought was a loving husband. She was happy. She had no reason to commit suicide."
He then went on to the evidence of the crime, the, Rachel's brain matter and DNA on the gun barrel, his prints on the gun and trigger lock, that sat silently hidden for over 2 years, in Rachel's mothers closet.
He pointed out the lies that were told to Neil's friends, family and authorities.
Later, the jury instructions were read and the jury will start it's deliberations on Tuesday. (NLH)
More...
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/crime/britons-wife-committed-suicide-$1228620.htm
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/06/defense_closing.html
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1102627&srvc=home&position=active
http://news.bostonherald.com
06/20/08
Entwistle's statements are contrary to testimony
Rachel's arm was over the baby, yet he saw a bullet hole, below, in Lilly?
Sgt. Robert Manning, MA State Police, homicide division, called and spoke to Neil Entwistle while Neil was still in Worksop England. They spoke for about 2 hours.
Neil Entwistle told Sgt. Manning that he went to finish himself off when he got to Joe and Priscilla's house after he found his wife and child shot to death in his master bedroom.
When Manning asked Entwistle what he found when he went upstairs to look for Rachel, he said he saw Rachel lying on the bed. It looked like she was asleep. They were partially covered so he couldn't see Lilly right away.
He noticed that Rachel looked pale and then he saw Lilly. He pulled the covers back and saw that Lilly was "such a mess". He didn't see blood on Rachel, it was all on Lilly. Her nose and mouth were covered by little bubble.
When asked what he thought happened to them, he said he didn't know. It was just obvious that they were dead, so he pulled the sheet over them to cover them up.
Later he told Manning that he had seen a hole in Lilly. He said there was so much blood on Lilly's chest. Rachel had her arm across Lilly.
When asked if he moved Rachel's arm, he said, "No."
Neil Entwistle never called 911, never went to the neighbors, didn't try to call anyone.
Neil Entwistle never mentioned a gun being found in the room, or elsewhere.
He said he didn't stop to get any money, while he was on his way to the airport. He just stopped to get gas on his credit card.
It's now being suggested that Neil Entwistle's defense MAY try and say that he lied about the gun, as he wanted to do the chivalrous thing, by taking the gun back to it's proper location in order to save Rachel's reputation, because she committed murder and suicide.
I guess we will see.
Join us in "Chat" on Monday to watch the trial together! IMO (NLH)
More reading...
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
06/19/08
Shocking suggestion in Entwistle case!
Neil Entwistle looking for 1-on-1 relationships
Neil Entwistle was checking his email at 12:39 pm, while his wife and baby lay dead in the upstairs master bedroom, according to Medford police Detective Lawrence James, computer forensic expert.
He also said that Entwistle used his credit card to buy a 30 day membership to AdultFriendFinder.com in December 2005.
In his profile, he said he was an Englishman who had recently moved to the United States looking for "1-on-1 discreet relationships with American ladies."
"I am looking to meet American woman of all ages. I need to confirm what friends have told me you are much better in bed than woman across the ocean," he wrote.
The report says a credit card number was used. The name Entwistle and a UK address are on the report. Payment was for $19.95. It was on 12/21/05, the day after the murders.
Dr. William Zane testified next. He explained how Rachel was shot through the left breast after the bullet had entered the baby at point blank range, passed through the baby and then into her.
The bullet that was placed in Rachel's brain, was shot at close range near the center of her head, in the hairline. It was NOT a contact wound. They shaved the area to expose the wound. The bullet passed at a downward angle.
The defense suggested that Rachel had gun powder on her hands so she may have killed her baby, pulled the huge .22 gun out, turned it until it was a couple of inches from her forehead, and shot herself.
Those of us in the Jurorthirteen chat room came unglued as we watched the defense make such insulting accusations. Reading other Blog sites, the reaction appears to be the same... pure astonishment. How did the gun get back at Rachel's parents house? I suppose, now, they will say that Neil took the gun back because he was so distraught..... uh.....hmmmm....huh? IMO (NLH)
Full day's trial reading...
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
06/18/08
Knife In Neck Kill?
Testimony given about Googled escort services
Wednesday's are only a half of day in court for the Neil Entwistle trial, but there was still a lot of riveting testimony given.
Detective Lawrence James, a forensic computer specialist was back on the stand, this morning, testifying about information found on Entwistle's computer.
On 1/16/06 a search was done for "How to Kill With a Knife". This entry was retrieved from cache 5 times.
One link that was visited said to 'stab through rib cage'.
On the same day, 16th, a visit was made to Adult Friend Finder, and the user ID is "ent".
It appeared someone using the name "ent" was being frugal as they searched again on 1/16/06 – all close at noon– Half Price Escorts, PayPal and Half Price Escorts again.
There are about 16,000 pages of documents on a CD, that related to the Internet searches found.
On the 17th of January, the user"ent" did a search for a "knife in Neck Kill", and a search for "quick suicide method".
Judge Diane Kottmyer ended testimony for the day just as James was asked to describe what activity there was on Entwistle's computer the day of the killings, after the time authorities believe his wife and daughter were shot.
Resources...
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
http://www.telegram.com/article/20080618/APN/806181048
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1101637
06/17/08
Buddy's from the UK testify for the prosecution
Neil Entwistle and Rachel's DNA found on gun
Exciting testimony was given today by a DNA expert and two friends of Neil Entwistle that Neil had visited while in the UK, after the murders.
Laura Bryant, DNA expert, testified this morning about her findings of the evidence that was tested. When discussing the DNA on the gun she said the swab of the grip of the gun contained Entwistle’s DNA which matches standard.
The swab from the barrel area of the gun contained a mixed profile of DNA - the major profile on the muzzle of the gun was Rachel’s.
A swab from the gun’s trigger lock shows DNA from Entwistle as the major contributor and two minor contributors.
Benjamin Prior was friends with Neil Entwistle, Dash Munding, and Rachel back in 1998 when they went to University together. They were on the same rowing team.
Prior spoke to Entwistle in February, 2006, and he asked if he could stay a few days with them in London. Munding, Prior, and Entwistle went out to dinner.
They had a conversation about what had happened that fateful day. Neil said he went out in the morning and he came home and found Rachel and Lilly dead. He got to the house at 11am. Entwistle said he was so distraught he went to the kitchen to get a knife to kill himself.
He told them he drove to his in-laws to get a gun but couldn’t get in.
Entwistle said he found his mother-in-law and they went to the in-laws house. They spoke to the State Police to tell them what he found.
He spoke with the police several times. They called Neil to tell him that they had found Rachel and Lilly. He was surprised that the police didn’t know he knew about the bodies.
He said he was isolated at the in-laws as they were consoling each other. So, he left and went to the only other place he really knew in the US; Logan Airport. Then he made the decision to fly home to his family.
They discussed his financial situation and he was struggling.
Neil told his friends that he BOUGHT the Hopkinton house with a 100% mortgage. He also told them they bought the BMW.
He said Rachel spent all the money on the new house and the baby and they were struggling and living by credit cards mostly.
On Thursday the UK police called Prior. He then called Dash and Neil to let them know.
It was apparent to Prior that the police wanted to reach Entwistle right away.
Prior told Entwistle to return home right away on the train. The US police were anxious to know exactly where Neil was.
The next witness was another university friend of Entwistle's, Dashiel Munding. Neil asked to stay at Munding's place, as he had been staying at his parent's home and the media was surrounding his house. Munding picked him up.
He told the story of going out to dinner with Neil and Prior, ands said that Neil told them that on the day Rachel and Lillian were found dead, he left the house around 9am and went shopping. He said when he left, he left the back door unlocked.
He didn’t buy anything and when he came home the door was still unlocked. He found Rachel and Lillian dead under a blanket.
Neil went to Matterazzo’s to make sure the guns were secure and none were missing.
He the said he drove to Priscilla’s office and called the police from there.
Neil left the office and drove for a while and then went to Logan so he could fly home to be comforted by his parents.
To read the full day's testimony go to one of my favorite sites....
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/search/label/Neil%20Entwistle
06/16/08
Blood Evidence Presented
Neil Entwistle's daughter shot at point blank range
A pair of baby pajamas were shown to the jury today, with the holes showing through. It was a "contact shot, said Deanna Dygan, a scientific investigator, as she displayed the blood stained garments.
The shot traveled through the infant's body and left an exit hole in the pajamas, she said. According to previous testimony based on post-mortem examinations, the bullet then lodged in her mother's chest as she cradled her daughter.
In his cross-examination of Dygan, defense lawyer Elliot Weinstein tried to undermine investigators' credibility by highlighting the fact that police initially did not realize that Rachel Entwistle had been shot in the head.
At first, police noticed a wound above her left breast, but an autopsy later revealed that she died of a gunshot wound to the head.
"You didn't notice that she had been shot in the middle of her forehead at first?" Weinstein asked.
"This was the careful and meticulous work, and yet nobody saw that that evening, did they?"
"That's correct," Dygan replied.
The court heard how Entwistle's DNA was found on the grip of the revolver used to kill his wife and daughter, an ammunition container and a gun lock, while the DNA of Mrs Entwistle, who had no interest in guns, was found "both in and on the muzzle".
Resource details...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jF5zKlr_yKLcVn3DNGccb--3cY-gD91BDULG0 No longer availabe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2141172/Neil-Entwistle's-baby-shot-at-point-blank-range.html
Great spot for full day's testimony!
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/2008/06/entwistle-murder-trial-day-7.html
06/13/08
Blood Spatter Evidence
Neil Entwistle eBay Scam?
The Entwistle trial opened with jurors seeing photographs of the crime seen.
Deanna Dygan,forensic chemist, told the jury that a certain type of gun residue was found on a pillow case underneath both Rachel and Lillian. Dyan explained that the type of residue is only present within 18 inches of the mussel of the gun, indicating that the gun must have been shot at least once from that range.
Forensics specialist John Soares, testified about the contents of Entwistle's BMW. They included a baby seat, a Dasani water bottle, a Dunkin' Donuts cup, and the car keys.
Soares faced intense cross examination by defense attorney Elliot Weinstein, acknowledging he and other investigators did not use chemical or light-based methods to test for blood at or around the crime scene that wasn't visible to the naked eye. Weinstein suggested crime scene investigators weren't as thorough as they could have been.
According to eBay fraud investigator, Jeremy Roybal, Neil Entwistle had 4 different Paypal accounts under his name and 1 under Rachel's name.
It wasn't clear what Neil Entwistle was selling, but it was clear that people were sending him money, and not getting any merchandise.
Daily Update From entwistlemurdertrial.com
Additional resources...
http://wbztv.com/local/neil.entwistle.entwistle.2.747678.html
http://www.entwistlemurdertrial.com/entwistle_todays_top_story/chemist-gun-less-two-feet-away-when-fired
06/12/08
A Tearful Morning In Court?
I didn't see Neil Entwistle wiping tears away
Tears were evident as jurors saw a 20 minute video of the bodies of Rachel and Lillian, but they were from Neil's father, mother and brother. The mother could not watch, and put her head on her husband's shoulder, crying as he comforted her. Neil's father and brother were sobbing at times, each using handkerchiefs to wipe their eyes.
Neil? He put his hands over his face and appeared to be crying a few times, but, there were no visible tears or tear wiping done. There were NO TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE! His own family was more shaken up than he appeared to be. At times it looked as though he were smiling. That is not shown as much in the You-Tube video.... maybe because of the smiling controversy that's now going on.
I also noticed he was aware of the camera position, as I saw a quick glance, eyes only, toward the camera. IMO (NLH)
"Some in the court questioned his emotional reaction to the tape, saying it appeared the Briton was actually holding back laughter." (snippet from WCVB Boston)
Daily Update From entwistlemurdertrial.com
More Reading...
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/16584387/detail.html
http://news.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/city_desk_wired/?p=1652&srvc=home&position=recent
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1026060/Entwistle-breaks-court-shown-crime-scene-footage-bodies-wife-child.html
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6755728&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
06/11/08
Processing The Scene
Neil Entwistle Murder Trial
Rachael's mother left the courtroom, again, this morning, as testimony was about to begin about the police discovering Rachael and Lillian's bodies.
Sgt. Michael Sutton testified that when he approached the house, the second time, on January 22, 2006 and there were no signs of forced entry. Then he testified that he smelled a foul odor that led him upstairs to the master bedroom, where he lifted a very fluffy comforter. They lay the bodies of Rachel and Lillian.
"I lifted the corner of the blanket and I first observed a baby's face ... I looked to the right of the baby's face and saw a woman's face," Sutton said.
Police Sgt. Mary Ritchie testified about processing the crime scene.
She showed the jury a picture of the bed with the comforter laying over Rachel and Lillian.
Ritchie went on to describe how they took the coverings off in three layers.
First they removed the comforter. They could see Rachel underneath a sheet. A pillow was over Lillian's head and part of Rachel's head. The pillow had blood stains on it.
The baby was shot through the stomach with the bullet passing all the way through entering the mother. The entire bullet was found in Rachel.
Rachel had her arm draped around Lilly's chest.
Court was in session for only a half a day, as it is scheduled each Wednesday. They ended just as testimony about the gun used in the murder was beginning.
Daily Update From entwistlemurdertrial.com
Resources... Me... and.....
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/city_desk_wired/index.php/2008/06/11/neils-mother-retreats/
http://home.wickedlocal.com/2008/06/11/jurors-shown-entwistle-bed-photos/
http://www.entwistlemurdertrial.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TM-WITWCHk
6/10/08
Rachel's Friend Testifies
Kim Puig, marketing professional, was called to the stand this morning. Puig owned the house that Rachel and Lillian were killed in.
They were on a 3 month lease that would renew if terms were met, at $2,700/mo.
She identified the keys and garage door openers and said that her and her next door neighbor knew the code to enter the house.
Pamela Jackson met the Entwistle family just five days before the murders occurred at the home in Hopkinton. Jackson was the welcome wagon lady.
Jackson testified that family was loving and adorable.
During the 50 minute chat they had, Neil Entwistle told her that he was in the insurance industry.
Michael Sheehan, who works for the MA Port Authority, took the stand next. His job was working at the Logan Airport with the parking and security systems.
Sheehan was able to identify Entwistle's car entering and exiting the garage and matched it to the credit card report, parking ticket and pay receipt. The parking ticket reflected the time to be 10:49 PM ET.
His car entered the airport at 8:14pm and left at 9:40pm, and the parking fee was paid with a credit card. The surveillance systems photos were time-stamped.
The next witness for the state was Julie-Anne Aloise, an investigator for Citizen's Bank. She was asked to review the Entwistle's Three accounts.
One was a trust account for Lillian Entwistle with Rachel and Neil on the account. It was started with $100.
There was a savings account for Lillian with Rachel and Neil. Started with $60.
And a third one was a joint account for Neil and Rachel that was opened just a couple of months before the deaths. They paid $50 to open the account and overdraft protection added. The last debit card transaction from that account was done on January 22, 2006, for $400, which was covered by the overdraft protection.
She continued by going over the ATM transaction details.
1/19/06 -9:05 am – withdrawal for $40
1/19/06- 3:54 pm – debit $7.04
1/20/06 – 20:30 - $400 withdrawal
3 transactions 1/20/06 at another location – within 1 minute - attempt to withdraw - denied
1/22/06 another location $400 approved
3 additional transactions for withdrawals denied - $150, $120, $100
1/22/06 withdrawal denied for $88.78 at a bank in the UK.
The next witness was Carol Cox, Customer Service Supervisor for British Airways.
There was a flight going out to the UK around 8:15am that she was preparing for.
At 6:00am when Neil was directed to her counter. The computers were down at the Airport, so she couldn't issue him a ticket and told him to call the reservation system to get an E-ticket.
She said he was pleasant, calm and polite, and that he didn't have any luggage with him.
He came back to her counter and she told him to wait to board so she could verify the ticket.
He boarded the airplane about 8:00am.
On cross examination by the defense lawyer, Weinstein, he said, " So you had a pleasant enough chat with him?", and she replied, "Yes." Our members in Chat wondered why this was being brought up, as it showed how calm Neil Entwistle was, not acting panicky as he told everyone else.
The next witness was Mary Hannon, Customer Service Manager for British Airways. She confirmed the transactions and records she was shown.
On 21st of January at 7:06am, Entwistle purchased the e-ticket according to the call center records - $787, one way fare paid for by Visa credit card.
Joanna Gately, a close friend of Rachel's, took the stand next.
On the 19th of January, 2006, she and Rachel made plans, over the phone, for a get together the following day. She was to be there anywhere from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
Joanna was accompanied by her sister Maureen on their way to Hopkinton.
She tried to call Rachel to let her know that she was running late that Saturday, but no-one answered. They left additional phone messages on Rachel's answering machine.
They got to the house about 7:20pm. They went to the door, knocked, rang the doorbell, but got no response. She could see a light on in the Foyer and master bedroom.
She found the note that Priscilla Matterazzo had left earlier in the day.
Joanna called Priscilla and they spoke most of the night. Priscilla called the police to come to the house. Two officers arrived and went to the front door. When they couldn't get the door open, they used a Blockbuster card to get it opened.
Joanna and Maureen stayed outside. The police came out after a few moments.
Joanna asked to take the dog out to go to the bathroom, and noticed the portable phone was missing and the phone jack was disconnected on the counter-top.
The police didn't find anything out of the ordinary in the house, at that time.
The girls stayed the night in their car, waiting to see if the Entwistle's came home.
The following day, a neighbor who had a code to open the electronic garage went into the house and looked around, but found nothing, Gately said.
Also testifying was Hopkinton Police Officer Aaron O'Neil, who told the court that officers found nothing suspicious in a well-being check of the home on Jan. 21, 2006 the day after the alleged murders.
Daily Update From entwistlemurdertrial.com
Resources... Me... and.....
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7447085.stm
http://www.pr-inside.com/neighbor-recalls-british-man-accused-of-r635544.htm
06/09/08
“That's the way I left them, I mean, that’s the way I found them.”
Neil Entwistle Trial Day Two
Lloyd Cooke continued on the stand this morning, with defense cross examination.
Weinstein questioned Cooke about the guns he owned, target practice he did with Joe Matterazzo, Rachel's father-in-law, and the guns Matterrazo owned.
Michael Matterazzo took the stand and testified of the good relationship he had with both Neil and Rachel Entwistle. He met Rachel when she was about 15, and thought of her as a sister.
On defense cross, Weinstein asked him about the guns his father owned, if he knew where the keys to the guns were and more questions about his relationship with Rachel.
I'm not sure where the defense is going with their questioning, so far. Maybe they are just pointing out how many people may have had access to the guns.
The main witness of the day was Joe Matterazzo.
He testified about meeting Priscilla, family, and their marriage. He also testified that he walked her down the isle when she and Neil got married, as her biological had passed away when Rachel was young.
Matterazzo said he liked Neil a lot. He was one of the family. He testified that Neil had a great relationship with Rachel and Lilly.
Joe testified that his guns were kept in his wife's closet with trigger locks on them. All of the guns were kept secure. He kept a set of keys on the counter between the kitchen and the dining room, where he also kept other sets of keys. He discovered, later, that one key to the trigger locks was missing.
He went on to discuss going to the gun club with Neil a couple of times, and that Neil did very well.
Matterazzo also testified that Neil picked up firing weapons, including the alleged murder weapon, in the fall of 2005.
Matterazzo testified that Neil wasn't working and they had a conversation concerning Neil setting up his own business. He asked what Neil was developing. Neil showed him a connector that goes on the back of a computer and explained how it was going to work. "He lost me." He spoke about it further.
"I asked if he was going to manufacture this item and put it on the market?" He told Neil he would help him set up the business. Neil said he was pretty well all set.
Matterazzo testified that Rachel told him Neil had a contract to develop something and was making good money at it.
Joe Matterazzo went on to talk about the week-end Rachel, Lilly, and Neil were missing, filling out the police report, and finding out Rachel and Lilly were dead.
Soon after the murders, Neil Entwistle called his father-in-law from his parents home in England.
Entwistle was first apologetic saying, “I don’t know how things got like this,” Matterazzo testified.
“He said it was just ‘a big mess,”’ Matterazzo added.
Matterazzo pressed Neil if he murdered Rachel and Lilly or knew who may have done it, he added.
“He said ‘No,’’’ Matterazzo testified.
“He was shaky, a little nervous and whimpering,” said Matterazzo, who added he also questioned his son-in-law over why he repeatedly mentioned his gun collection.
Matterazzo also testified that Neil dismissed press reports of his alleged “pornographic” rummaging on the Web and reported “e-mails” to escort services as “ridiculous.”
Neil Entwistle didn't come to the funeral and faxed permission to the family to take care of Rachel and Lillian.
Entwistle told his father-in-law to bury his murdered wife and child side-by-side because that’s the way he “left them, I mean, that’s the way I found them.”
Resource details...
http://news.bostonherald.com/
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/search/label/Neil%20Entwistle
06/06/08
Opening Statements
Neil Entwistle's Mother-In-Law Testifies
The trial opened with the typical instructions to the jury about how the trial will be run and what will be taking place throughout the trial.
Opening statements were made by Assistant District Attorney, Michael Fabbri. He used Neil Entwistle's own words as he began.
"After I came home and found them, I covered them up. My first thought was to go down to the kitchen for a knife, but I knew that would hurt. I went to my in-law’s to get a gun and kill myself. But, I couldn't get in. The evidence will show he had the keys to the house." The words of Neil Entwistle.
"I could see the hole in Lilly." Evidence will show this isn’t true.
"I didn't even call 911 or call for help” said Neil Entwistle to investigators, according to Fabbri.
"I didn't tell Rachel’s parents before I left for England. I did’t even think about funeral arrangements." The words of Neil Entwistle.
He went on to talk about how Rachel and Entwistle met, got married and had their baby daughter, Lilly. And, then talked about Entwistle's computer searches for escort services and on how to murder and suicide.
He said that Entwistle said he had an interview the day of the 20th, the day of the murders, that was never set up.
He ended telling the jury that Neil Entwistle didn't attend the wake and funeral of Rachel and Lillian, he sent flowers, and, when arrested he had a paper on him that listed escort services and how he wanted to sell his story to the highest bidder.
Entwistle's defense Attorney Elliot M. Weinstein opened his statements by saying, "On January 20, 2006 Neil Entwistle changed, his life changed, never to be the same. On that day he lost his wife and daughter. He loved them both."
Entwistle Attorney Elliot Weinstein urged the jury to listen to the sometimes “sordid, gruesome and graphic” evidence coming in the case with an open mind. "Do not be overwhelmed," he warned them.
"As you hear and see the evidence, the evidence will show you that Neil is not responsible for killing Lillian or Rachel. Neil is not guilty," he said.
The first witness called to the stand was Priscilla Matterrazo, Rachel's mother.
She testified about her daughter's relationship with Entwistle and the birth of Lillian Rose.
She went on to testified that Rachel and Neil were provided a set of keys to the house and that there was a spare set of keys hidden in the dog house, that they knew about.
Neil and Rachel visited her at her work. Rachel worked at her office one summer so everyone knew who she was. Entwistle would come by the office a couple of times a month, sometimes to have lunch.
They discussed the guns that Priscilla's husband, Joe (Rachel's step-father), had and the fact that they had gone target shooting a couple of times.
Rachel's mother and her best friend, Theresa, had plans to meet with Rachel on Saturday, January 21st, at the Entwistle home. She described her surprise when Rachel didn't answer the door and all of the doors were locked. They drove around for awhile, and tried again, to no avail, so she left a note on the door.
Jo-Anna Gately had arrangements for a dinner party at Rachel's house that night, but no-one was home. She called Priscilla. That's when the police were called and a request for them to check the house was made.
Priscilla and Joe went to the police station on Sunday and filed a missing person's report on Rachel, Neil and Lillian.
They were at the police station for 7 hours. Police told them what happened to Rachel and Lillian. They left the police station at 1:30 am.
On cross, the defense portrayed Neil, Rachel and Lilly as a very happy family, with Entwistle being a good father and husband.
Theresa Pratt was the next witness for the prosecution. Rachel and Theresa's daughter were best friends.
She went on to describe Neil and Rachel as a loving couple. Then they moved on to the subject of the arranged visit On January 21st, and her experience that day and the following day. (NLH)
More reading...
http://news.bostonherald.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080606/mother-and-baby-dead/
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6712417&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
http://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/
06/04/08
One makes sixteen
Neil Entwistle trial to start
With only one more juror needed to seat all 16 jurors for the Neil Entwistle trial, the pool of potential candidates was used up.
The judge announced a fresh pool of 70 new would-be jurors would be called to Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn tomorrow. Out of that crop, at least one “qualified” juror, possibly more, must be seated. “We have exhausted the jury pool,” she told the court.
Defense attorney Elliot Weinstein predicted Wednesday, outside the court, that the case will not begin until Friday.
A woman who was in the jury pool at the murder trial of Neil Entwistle told a judge today that she had heard other potential jurors say that the jury should "fry him and send him away."
Defense attorney Elliott Weinstein immediately asked Judge Diane Kottmyer to change the venue or dismiss the case, arguing that the comments bolstered his contention that his client cannot get a fair trial because the case has drawn so much publicity. But Kottmyer denied the motion.
Read resource details...
http://news.bostonherald.com/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/06/jury_bias_issue.html
06/03/08
24 Qualified Potential Jurors Chosen
Neil Entwistle's Parents Arrive
The pool of potential juror count is now at 24. There are 15 women and 9 men.
One potential juror was let go because he was a witness in the Louise Woodward trial, and friends of the Eappen family. Woodward was convicted of killing 8-month-old Matthew Eappen in 1997.
Neil Entwistle's parents, Yvonne and Clifford Entwistle, and brother, Russell, arrived at court today, from the UK. They had little to say to the press, but shared smiles and nods with Neil as they sat behind him during jury selection.
Later the parents told the press that Neil was "100% innocent".
Resource...
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/city_desk_wired/?cat=4
06/02/08
Jury Selection Continues
Neil Entwistle Trial
The case opened with the selection of the jury after judge Diane Kottmyer struck down nine motions filed by Entwistle's attorneys including one that potential jurors be asked about their reaction to Internet sex and gambling sites.
Jury selection could take three days with 170 potential jurors to be whittled down to 12 plus four alternates, with the whole trial expected to last some three weeks.
Some 160 witnesses, as many as 29 from Britain, are expected to appear over the course of the trial.
Kottmyer told the 170 potential jurors in the room: "We expect this to take some time and we expect some patience on your part."
Court documents portray Entwistle as a sexual pervert who spent his time devising Internet scams and setting up pornographic websites, and who struggled to find work when the family tried to start a new life in the United States.
Read article details...
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gPx8RtJ2K-UiotnhZtMCyySEQuSA
Worksop, England, hometown sentiment...
http://news.bostonherald.com/
05/30/08
Motions Denied
Neil Entwistle Trial Stays Put
Judge Diane Kottmyer had her hands full with different motions to decide in the Neil Entwistle trial that is to start with jury selection on Monday. This trial will have live trial feed, and we'll be chatting it up in our chat room, so be sure to join us.
During the pretrial hearing at Middlesex Superior Court this morning, the judge ruled that the plea to move the double-murder trial to Edgartown was denied. She also denied trial dismissal.
In other decisions at today’s final pre-trial motions hearing, the judge ruled:
• She demanded a list of locations the jury will visit, including the murder scene at 6 Cubs Path in Hopkinton and the in-laws home in Carver.
• Rachel’s mother and father and her brother will be allowed to stay in the courtroom for the entire trial, except when others are testifying.
• A photo showing both Rachel and her baby girl before the murders will be allowed.
• Any word of a “third-party suspect” will be handled when and if it is brought up in court.
• The use of a life-sized child mannequin will not be allowed.
Read resource details...
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1097548&pos=breaking
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,361001,00.html
05/29/08
Jury Selection Starts Monday!
Neil Entwistle Update
Neil Entwistle is accused of murdering his wife and his 9 month old baby daughter, on January 20, 2006. He then purchased a one-way ticket to London.
The court is bracing for a media-circus. TruTv cameras will be rolling throughout the trial, bringing this internationally known trial to us.
Officials have already spelled out the rules of the Entwistle trial to about two dozen members of the media, including some of the British press, at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn.
Entwistle was looking to sell his story to the “highest bidder” , and trying to hook up with an old girlfriend, when he was arrested in his native England about a month after the grisly slayings of his wife and baby girl in Hopkinton, according to shocking new court filings.
Resources...
http://news.bostonherald.com/
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1097118
05/22/08
Privilege In Question
Neil Entwistle Family Muders
A Boston radio talk-show host is on the hot seat as a potential key witness in the upcoming Neil Entwistle trial.
WTKK radio personality and former Boston Herald reporter Michelle McPhee — whose book on the Entwistle case is set to be released on June 3 by St. Martin's Press — told Lawyers Weekly that she received a summons Monday night to appear before Superior Court Judge Diane M. Kottmyer at a pre-trial hearing in Middlesex Superior Court on May 30.
Entwistle, whose trial gets under way the following week, was the subject of a Boston Herald story about a suicide note he allegedly penned in a jail cell while awaiting trial for the 2006 murder of his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian, in Hopkinton.
In addition to her appearance on May 30, the summons orders McPhee — who covered the murder case extensively while a crime reporter at the Boston Herald — to provide copies of any and all documents related to the suicide-note story that she and Herald scribe Laurel Sweet co-wrote on Nov. 15, 2007.
Read detailed article by David Frank
http://www.masslaw.com/052008news.cfm No longer available
04/26/08
Request Denied
Middlesex, MA won't be paying for a jury selection expert for Neil Entwistle's murder trial. Middlesex Superior Court judge Diane Kottmyer decided that Entwistle's lawyers did not prove they needed money to hire the expert.
"Counsel cite no case in which a motion for funds has been allowed to retain experts to assist in the selection of a jury,'' she said in her decision. "They argue that it is essential to develop a questionnaire to 'help identify overt, subtle and hidden bias of prospective jurors.' They point out that the present case has received extensive local, national and international publicity.''
"But many criminal cases receive substantial publicity in the location in which the events leading to the charges took place,'' Kottmyer said. "In most of these cases, that is the same geographical area from which jurors are selected.''
Read resource details...
http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/Judge-says-no-to-expert.4021401.jp
04/04/08
DA Seeks Gambling Records
Prosecutors are seeking financial records from a European gambling Web site where accused killer Neil Entwistle had an account and lost hundreds of dollars in the month before he is accused of killing his wife and infant daughter in Hopkinton two years ago.
In a seven-page "Letter of Rogatory,'' prosecutor Michael Fabbri sent to the British territory of Gibraltar a request for all financial records for the Web site called Casino on Net used by Entwistle, 28. The prosecution is seeking the records to help prove that Entwistle's financial problems were his motive for shooting his wife Rachel, 27, and daughter, Lillian Rose, 9 months old, on Jan. 20, 2006 in their 6 Cubs Path, Hopkinton home.
Read full resource story....
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/breaking/x1564574648 No longer available
Resources... Me... and.....
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/city_desk_wired/index.php/2008/06/11/neils-mother-retreats/
http://home.wickedlocal.com/2008/06/11/jurors-shown-entwistle-bed-photos/
http://www.entwistlemurdertrial.com/