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by Bob_Ward from Dedham

Last Post 4 days, 11 hours Ago


Entwistle Trial: Bloody Clothes
Jun 16, 2008 | 9:42 PM
Category: News
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I have to admit, this was a painful day in the Neil Entwistle double murder trial.

This was the day the state showed the jury, and the whole world, the night clothes Rachel and Lillian Entwistle were wearing when they were shot to death inside their rented Hopkinton home.

Rachel's green blouse, and little Lillian's onesie and pj's were covered in blood. Last week only the jury saw the gruesome crime scene photos. But today we were shown the tangible evidence that reveals the brutality of this awful crime.

These bloody clothes were not shown merely for shock value. According to State Police chemist Deanna Dygan Lillian's pjs reveal a very disturbing fact: Lillian's killer pressed the barrel of the gun right up against the baby's chest and pulled the trigger. Brutal. Just brutal.

We also learn that Rachel's blouse and her underpants contained sperm, and that sperm was recovered from Rachel's body. That sperm evidence was sent out for DNA analysis, we have not heard the results.

And if that's not enough, there is still even more startling evidence today. And this has to do with gun powder residue. This is the residue that is released when a gun is fired, and we learn today it typically lands up to three feet away from the fired weapon.

From state witnesses today we learn that gun powder residue was discovered on Rachel Entwistle's hands. And no residue was found on anything belonging to Neil Entwistle that was tested. This includes a blue sweater recovered from the Entwistles' leased and locked BMW Neil left at Logan Airport before flying off to his native England.

The gun residue on Rachel's hands means one of three things: she fired the weapon, she held the weapon after it was fired, or she was near it when it was fired. We know Rachel was found with her arm draped over Lillian's lifeless body. Could this explain the residue?

What about Neil?

No trace of gunpowder residue present in the BMW or on that sweater. Of course we don't know what clothes Neil was wearing on the morning of the murders, but we do know he drove the BMW that day. The BMW was found at Logan where Neil was caught on surveillance cameras pulling money out of an ATM. And he allegedly told the State Police that he drove the BMW to Carver after discovering the bodies. If Neil killed Rachel and Lillian, shouldn't residue have been found in the BMW? I'm expecting that question and many more will be hammered home by Neil's defense team.

There is still more forensic evidence, including DNA evidence, to come. And I'm expecting the state will rely on DNA, not gunpowder residue, to put the murder weapon in Neil's hand. Yet even that DNA evidence may be open to interpretation.

This fascinating trial continues Tuesday morning.

Don't forget to check out our Neil Entwistle trial web page which contains live streaming video of the entire trial, plus trial blogs my colleague Ted Daniel and I are writing as this trial unfolds.

What do you think? Is the state proving its case? Is the defense raising serious issues?

Bob Ward

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Member Comments Total Comments: 13
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fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 16, 2008 | 10:51 PM

Bob, I just arrived from Mars and I am seated on the Entwistle Jury. I never heard of this case as it never made the news or papers on my planet. He looks like such a nice man and I can't believe he could do such a horrible thing. The evidence so far has been very sad and compelling, but nothing so far says he did it. Money problems and horniness doesn't spell murder. I have had those problems and didn't kill over it. Yeah if he wasn't guilty he should have called the police when he discovered those bodies. On the other hand he could have been so shocked and depressed he needed to go to his mommy. I remember several years ago, The Mars Gazette had this story of this man named OJ Simpson. They said he murdered 2 people. Now that man I would have sworn he was guilty. The Jury said no. Go figure. By the way, my friend Fenwaydav say's Neil Entwistle is guilty as the day is long. I can't listen to him cause I don't want it to influence me.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 5:34 AM

Excellent reporting on your part Bob. And you're right, that "onsie" is haunting....just haunting.
autumn80
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:52 AM

Hello Bob,
I have so many questions about this friend Joanna gately. why was she two hours late for dinner? why did she sit outside in the freezin cold all night? does anyone else see that as odd? after going into the home with the police why did she re-enter the home again without police there? when in the home watching tv why didnt she turn off the loud music? did she know the bodies were there and was just waiting for the police to discover them? this woman is very odd to me there is something just not right about her what do you think?
patsypie read my blog
Jun 17, 2008 | 9:20 AM

I have been watching since day 1. I had too turn away when they put the clothing up, it made me cry. I have too agree with Autumn about the Gately women, very wierd behavior.
NunoFelix read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 9:50 AM

Dont let it be another O.J. Simpson please!!
Just by looking at his face you can tell that is sick, and capable of doing something like that, or just planning it.
I am a father of 2 kids and married, if something happened similar to that, i would be devastaded, and would difinatly not travel back to my home country till i found out who did it, no mather what. I'm sure that 99% of parents would agree with me.
It just dosent sound right.
He deserves death penalty!!
My 2 Cents.
Bob_Ward read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:06 AM

Hi Chip,


Thanks as always! Very much appreciated.

Fenwaydav,

Very funny. So are you saying that the defense is raising issues for you? Or that the prosection's case isn't as strong as you thought it might be? These trials always give us something to think about, which is why there really is no such thing as an open and shut case. Interesting case, isn't it?

BW
keldas
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:09 AM

Why didn't Joanna call and ask the neighbours to let her into the house the night before instead of sitting out in the cold all night. Does anyone know if Joanna or Rachel's mother contacted the hospital incase Rachel or Neil weren't at home because they were involved in a road accident.
bkapsalis
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:54 AM

Hi Bob;

I too think the behavior of Joanna Gately was very odd. She acted as though she knew something had happened but wanted the police to discover it. She was very anxious to get them in that house one way or another. Why not wait for a day or two before being so concerned? Why not stay in the house during that night instead of her car?? Still no hard evidence that Neil himself did this although I have always consider him the suspect.
NunoFelix read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 11:05 AM

From all that has been said on the news and papers, and all the evidence that as been broght public. I'm starting to believe that that is someone else envolved in this case, that is still out there... the shooter!
calichristmas
Jun 17, 2008 | 11:14 AM

This case is very disturbing. Because it involves a child. I am following the case and I am trying to be open minded about it. If there was another person in the room before or during the murder where is he/she?
Why didn't Entwistle call the cops as soon as he "found" the bodies? It all sounds suspicious.
It does not look good for him. remember he also wrote a note to his mom that he had nothing to live for while in jail? Gee, why would he do that if he were innocent?
If he did this he should be in jail for life. he should admit his guilt now and end the madness, stop wasting the states money on this trial.

Kathy
NunoFelix read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 11:26 AM

This was plan that went bad, but once again not that bad. This is something that was planned and very well planned, but didnt go as it should've. I'm thinking he was supposed to be out of the country before the murder happened. But something must've went wrong.
autumn80
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:30 PM

Hello
I am so glad that i am not the only one questioning the behavior of Joanna Gately i really believe that she knows more than what she is telling anyone. One thing i would like to know is the defense able to call her back to the stand if they have more questions for her
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 2:54 PM

Bob, I think both sides are raising some issues. I was just looking from a point like I never heard of it before. You have been around long enough to know that anything is possible. Whenever I get shocked by an outcome, I just say oh well I'll never be shocked again, but you no what? I am....
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Bob_Ward

I am a reporter/anchor specializing in crime and regular features such as New England's Unsolved and Mass Most Wanted.

Member Since: 10/16/2006


 

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