Entwistle Breaks Down at Murder Trial

Brit accused of killing wife, infant sobs as jury sees gory crime scene video.

ByABC News
June 13, 2008, 9:22 AM

June 13, 2008— -- In the past two years, accused killer Neil Entwistle has not once shown any public signs of grief over the murder of his wife and infant daughter – but that all changed Thursday in a Massachusetts courtroom where he is on trial.

Entwistle broke down and cried as he watched a videotape depicting the dead bodies of his 27-year-old wife, Rachel, and 9-month-old baby daughter Lillian as they lay nestled together on a bed.

Before the jury viewed the grisly 20-minute video, taken by State Police crime investigators, Judge Diane Kottmeyer instructed them to "put aside any feelings of sympathy or any other emotions … and be objective in your consideration of the evidence."

As the videotape began to play, soft classical music could be heard in the background, music that police officials had already testified came from the baby's nursery. Entwistle's face grew red and he quickly covered his mouth and eyes with his hands as he looked down seemingly unable to watch the gruesome images in front of him. Seconds later, he raised his head, his eyes fixed on the television monitor, and then again he buried his face in his hands, crying.

Although the family could not view the videotape from their vantage point, Yvonne Entwistle, Neil's mother, audibly sobbed. Her husband, Cliff, put his arm around her as she buried her face in his arms. Cliff, too, dabbed his eyes with some tissue. By contrast, Rachel's parents, Joe and Priscilla Matterrazo, sat quietly, holding hands, as the videotape documenting the crime scene involving their daughter and granddaughter played for the jury. The Matterrazos could not see the videotape; nor could any of the other courtroom spectators.

But the jury could. Several leaned forward as if to get a better look. Others brought their hands up to their mouths. But for the most part, all eyes, at least in the back of the courtroom, were on the defendant.

Media coverage of Entwistle's reaction to the videotape set off a bit of a firestorm because one person's sob, it seems, is another person's smile, at least when it comes to a high-profile murder case.