Murderer faces life in US jail

Sentence for Entwistle

Published:

DOUBLE killer Neil Entwistle was due to be sentenced to life in jail without chance of parole for the murders of his American wife and baby daughter today.

US prosecutors said the former computer worker had been reprehensible, shameful and cowardly in the way he disparaged the memory of his wife Rachel and vilified her family during his 14-day trial.

The 29-year-old from Kilton, Worksop, has been convicted of murdering his 27-year-old wife and their nine-month-old daughter Lillian Rose at their home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on January 20, 2006.

Middlesex district attorney Gerard Leone Jr said: “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.

“But make no mistake about it, he is now held accountable and responsible for these unforgivable acts.”

Entwistle’s mother Yvonne, a school dinner lady, insisted her son was innocent and said she was “devastated to learn the evidence pointed to Rachel murdering our grandchild and then committing suicide”.

She was referring to the closing statement in which defence lawyer Elliot Weinstein said Entwistle’s wife killed her baby before shooting herself in the head after becoming depressed.

But US prosecutors said that scenario was “unimaginable” and the jury dismissed the speculative theory.

Asked about Entwistle’s parents’ statement, Mr Leone said: “I’d expect nothing less from the parents of someone who’s been convicted of first degree murder.”

Speaking for Mrs Entwistle’s mother Priscilla and stepfather Joseph Matterazzo, family spokesman Joe Flaherty said: “The jury has spoken for Rachel and Lillian. The justice we sought will be served.

“Neil Entwistle will now live with his evil deeds for the rest of his natural life, only to be judged again.”

Entwistle’s father Clifford, a Bassetlaw district councillor, said he did not think his son had received a fair trial and said the family would “continue to fight for our innocent son”.

After the murder Entwistle fled to his parents’ home in England, but waived his right to fight extradition and was taken back to the US.