What Experts have to say
Our experts weigh in
Throughout the trial, the Daily News has invited a panel of experts to comment on what is happening in the courtroom. The panel members are: Wendy Murphy, a former Middlesex assistant district attorney and current victim/witness advocate; John LaChance, a former federal prosecutor and current defense lawyer based in Framingham, and Steve Huff, a professional crime blogger who runs two Web sites. Check back often for our experts' opinions. And if you want to share your opinion, visit our blog.
Timeline: So Far...
Jan. 16, 2006 -- Neil Entwistle visits the adult dating World Wide Web site "Adult Friend Finder."
Jan. 16 and 17 -- Entwistle views a Web site describing how to kill people. He also searches the internet on how to commit suicide, how to kill someone with a knife and euthanasia.
Jan. 18 -- Entwistle searches the internet for "escort services,'' including "Blonde Beauties Escort SVC.'' based in Worcester.
Coming Up
Neil Entwistle will serve his time at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley. His conviction will be appealed. Under Massachusetts law, all first-degree murder convictions are appealed.
Poll
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Click on the headline above or "read more" below for brief updates from the courtroom throughout the day.
COURTROOM UPDATE - 6/20/08: Audio glitch ends court early today
posted at 3:23 p.m.: The Neil Entwistle double murder trial ended early today due to technical difficulties.
Prosecutors attempted to play a second audio recording between Entwistle and state police Sgt. Robert Manning.
However, the audio volume could not be raised to a suitable level, so Judge Diane Kottmyer ended the day early.
Prior to that, Manning testified about an unrecorded phone call he had with Entwistle on Jan. 24, 2006.
During that conversation, Manning said he asked Entwistle if he plannned on coming back to the U.S.
Entwistle said, "I don't know. Why would I do that?"
posted at 1:38 p.m.: For nearly two hours, the courtroom was quiet, except for a recording of Neil Entwistle's voice, being questioned by a Massachusetts State trooper on Jan. 23, 2006, the first time he spoke to authorities after the discovery of his murdered wife and daughter.
Trooper Robert Manning, on the recording called Entwistle in England to inform him his family was dead. Entwistle said he already knew.
Entwistle said he had come home from running errands and he found them dead. He said he covered them up with a blanket.
"Why did you that?" Manning asked.
"I don't know," said Entwistle. "It just seemed ... I really don't know why ... It was almost like closing them off. I don't know why I did it."
Entwistle repeatedly said he wanted to kill himself with a knife, but he couldn't go through with it.
"I wanted to end it - to do something to myself," said Entwistle. "The only thing I could think of was the knivves we had downstairs. We had this big set of knives."
Later on the recording, he said, "I was scared. I got the knife, I couldn't do it. I knew it would hurt."
Manning said, "You knew it hurt you?"
"Yeah," Entwistle said.
Entwistle said he drove to Carver to tell Rachel's parents and use a gun to kill himself, but he said he couldn't get in the house.
Later, when Manning asked if anyone in the house did anything "out of character" that lead to the deaths, Entwistle became defensive.
"I couldn't do that. Why would I do that?" Entwistle said. "It was just a normal ... It was just a normal day."
Manning responded, "Sometimes, sometimes something crazy happens without a reason."
Entwistle also told the investigator that he had not cried yet.
Manning is to resume the stand after lunch.
posted at 11:18 a.m: Neil Entwistle's first conversation with police after Rachel and Lillian Rose Entwistle's bodies were found are being played in court today.
Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Robert Manning said he spoke to Entwistle for about two hours on the afternoon of Jan. 23, 2006, the day after the bodies were discovered at 6 Cubs Path, Hopkinton.
Entwistle is accused of murdering his wife and daughter on Jan. 20.
- By Norman Miller
Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Robert Manning listens to an audio tape of a telephone conversation between himself and Neil Entwistle during his testimony Friday.
DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEN MCGAGH