Entwistle denies killing wife and baby

Entwistle has been held without bail since he was originally arraigned on February 16.

The case in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has sparked a flood of media coverage in the US and in Britain, where Neil Entwistle grew up. Entwistle flew to his parents’ home the day after the killings.

Prosecutors allege that Entwistle shot his wife and daughter in their rented home in suburban Boston after racking up tens of thousands of dollars in debts and becoming dissatisfied with his sex life.

They also said Entwistle may have planned to commit suicide, but instead fled to his parents’ home in England.

In the days before the killings, Entwistle did research online about ways to kill other people and oneself, according to affidavits filed by investigators. He also trawled the internet for escort services, according to court documents.

The bodies of Rachel and Lillian Entwistle were found lying together in bed.

Prosecutors said Entwistle used his father-in-law’s .22-calibre handgun, then drove 50 miles to the parents’ home to return the weapon.

Entwistle allegedly told a state police detective that he returned home from doing errands to find his wife and daughter dead. He said he thought about killing himself after discovering their bodies, but could not go through with it, according to affidavits.

Entwistle met Rachel Souza in 1999 at the University of York where she was spending a year abroad. The couple married in 2003 and lived in England. Their daughter was born in April 2005.

The couple moved to Massachusetts last summer and lived with Rachel’s relatives until January, when they moved to their rented home. Ten days later, Rachel and Lillian Entwistle were found dead.

Besides the murder charges, Entwistle is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence. Massachusetts does not have a death penalty.