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Neil Entwistle guilty on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife, Rachel, and the couple's 9-month-old daughter, Lillian.

No surprise there. The evidence was both powerful and overwhelming.

But what happened outside the court, with Neil's parents still blaming Rachel, going so far as to call her a murderer, I've never seen anything like it.

Not only that, but Neil's mother said she knew Rachel suffered from depression.

It boggles my mind. Not only because this trashes the memory of Rachel Entwistle (the very thing the defense said Neil didn't want to do), but where was this evidence at trial?

It's right up there with why he didn't call 911. Why wouldn't a mother who felt she had exculpatory evidence, insist it be presented during her son's murder trial? Why are we only hearing about depression after his conviction?

I asked Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone to comment about the Entwistle family's statements and he'd only say this: "I expect nothing less of the parents of someone convicted of First Degree murder. The jury has spoken in this case. They've spoken loudly."

I expect Neil Entwistle's parents will be in court Thursday morning for their son's sentencing. But this will only be a formality. The life no parole sentence is automatic. And so too is the appeal.

I was in the courtroom when the verdict was read. And what a surreal moment it was.

I grabbed a seat after lunch. I had a book with me, but I was talking to other reporters and other observers about the trial, when suddenly there was this rapid influx of people in what was, just moments before, an empty courtroom.

I was used to seeing the defense team, Elliott Weinstein and Stephanie Page walking in and out of the courtroom, but Mike Fabbri, the lead prosecutor suddenly emerged. And just seconds later word filtered in to us that the jury reached a verdict.

The courtroom was packed, there wasn't a spare seat inside. And then the really weird part: the judge entered the courtroom and resumed routine business for about a half and hour. The wait was excruciating.

Finally, when the routine flotsam and jetsam of courtroom life was finished, the judge took another brief break. When Neil walked into the courtroom, he nodded at his parents and took his customary place at the defense table.

When the jury walked in, as I observed yesterday, every single juror, the twelve plus the four alternates, looked away from Entwistle, most craning their necks to avoid looking at him. In the moments while the guilty verdicts were read, just one juror looked at Neil. The rest simply looked at the judge.

When it was all over, when the judge and the jury left, I saw something I'll never forget. Neil Entwistle turned towards his father. He raised his eyebrows. And shrugged. It was an "oh well, we tried" kind of shrug. And then Neil was led away. Not even in Neil's hour of judgment could he muster up an emotion. Neil Entwistle is 29 years old, he could spend 60 years in a Massachusetts prison, thousands of miles from home, his wife and daughter buried in a single coffin, and Neil Entwistle shrugged.

A couple of years ago I read a book about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth was quoted as looking at his hands and saying, "Useless, useless," before drawing his last breath.

And that's how I feel about this case. A beautiful young mother and her little baby are dead. The handsome young father will never again taste freedom. Two families on both sides of the Atlantic now plunged into unimaginable misery. And all for what? What a complete waste.

During the press conference after the verdict, I asked prosecutor Mike Fabbri what he considered the most critical evidence against Neil Entwistle. And he answered simply: "Neil Entwistle."

In the end Neil Entwistle could not get away from his words and ultimately he could not escape his demons. What drove him to destroy his young family we will never know.

It's something I hope I will never understand.

Thanks all for following this case with us. You know how much I appreciate your support.

Please let me know what you are thinking about all of this..

Bob Ward

Bob_Ward's Blog

Neil Entwistle: Guilty

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