Evidence Opens Window to Entwistle's Mind

June 27, 2008— -- What caused a young, apparently happily married British man to shoot his 27-year-old American wife, Rachel and 9-month-old baby daughter, Lillian, at point-blank range and leave them for dead on a blood-soaked bed as he fled to England?

People on both sides of the Atlantic have been pondering that question for two years now, ever since the stunning arrest of English computer engineer Neil Entwistle in February 2006.

Police had been on Entwistle's trail ever since the bodies of Rachel and Lillian Entwistle were found Jan. 22, 2006, with their arms intertwined in the master bedroom of their spacious colonial home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Hopkinton, Mass.

The court sentenced Entwistle Thursday to two concurrent life terms for what Judge Diane Kottmyer called crimes "that defy comprehension."

Kottmyer went on to castigate Entwistle for his actions "because they involve the planned and deliberate murders of the defendant's wife and 9-month-old child in violation of bonds that we recognize as central to our identity as human beings -- those of husband and wife, and parent and child."

Since his arrest, Entwistle has maintained a sphinxlike demeanor -- for the most part remaining expressionless through his arraignment, incarceration and conviction.

So it was fascinating for members of the media to get a glimpse into the mind of a killer as evidence from the trial was put on display in Courtroom 430.

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That prosecution's evidence included a spiral notebook seized from Entwistle when he was arrested in February 2006. In the pages of the book, there is a draft letter in which Entwistle pretends to be a "close friend" and pitches a proposal to sell his story to the highest bidder.

"What's of interest to us is what price you would be willing to pay for the exclusive rights to the full story. … We are leaving it open to the highest bidder," wrote Entwistle. And, he added, there would be enough material to last "a week."

The prosecution has long argued that Entwistle killed his wife and child because this suburban dad was dissatisfied with his sex life and swimming in debt. In closing arguments, assistant district attorney Michael Fabbri said that Entwistle had "reached a tipping point."