Sentencing

Neil Entwistle was officially sentenced to life in prison today. Judge Diane Kottmyer sentenced Entwistle to two concurrent life sentences without parole for the murders of his wife Rachel and baby Lillian and also gave him 10 years of probation for possession of a firearm and ammunition, with the condition that he cannot make money from selling his story in any way.

Before the sentence was officially read, Rachel's relatives gave victim impact statements. Her mother, Priscilla Matterazzo, asked the judge to impose two consecutive life sentences and called the defense's theory that Rachel committed a murder-suicide "low and despicable." Rachel's stepfather, Joe Matterazzo, told Entwistle that "one day you will face the ultimate judgement for your horrific deeds." Jerome Souza, Rachel's brother, said that "each and every day we have to live with the heartache of Neil's betrayal" and "we can only reflect on what Rachel did and speculate on what Lilly might have done."

Entwistle did not react to the statements but smiled faintly at his parents and brother when he entered the courtroom and again when he left for the last time. He was given an opportunity to speak, but his lawyer Elliot Weinstein told the court that he did not wish to do so.

Judge Kottmyer called the crimes "incomprehensible" and "in violation of the bonds we recognize as central to our identity as human beings." She had the option of giving Entwistle consecutive or concurrent life sentences, but decided on concurrent because consecutive life sentences might give the impression to those unfamiliar with the Massachusetts legal system that Entwistle might eventually be able to get out of jail. The decision was purely symbolic, of course. Unless he is successful in his appeals, Entwistle will be in jail for the rest of his life with no opportunity for parole.

Afterward, defense lawyers Elliot Weinstein and Stephanie Page gave a press conference outside the courthouse. They criticized the attitude that defendants should prove their innocence and insisted that the prosecution had not met its burden of proof in the case. "What I'm frustrated with is that so many people do not understand what a trial is," Weinstein replied when asked if he was frustrated with Entwistle's mother, Yvonne, for saying yesterday that she believes Rachel committed a murder-suicide. "It's unfair to Neil, it's unfair to the American citizenry to perpetuate this myth," he later said.

So, one of the biggest trials in Massachusetts history is now over. Entwistle is now at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, Mass., where he will serve his life sentence. I will continue blogging about the case whenever there is a new development. Until then, I'll have to find a new trial to follow...

EDIT: The MetroWest Daily News has reported that contrary to what was said at sentencing, Entwistle will actually be held at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley starting tomorrow.