Murder case Briton fights DNA bid

[homesick_american 1]

I only wish Massachusetts had the death penalty; this guy's such a scumbag.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5408688.stm

A Briton accused of murdering his US wife and baby is expected to fight a prosecution request for a DNA sample when he appears in an American court.

Neil Entwistle's lawyer Elliott Weinstein said his client would oppose the bid, the Boston Globe reported.

Mr Entwistle, 27, from Worksop, Notts, is due to appear at a pre-trial hearing in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He denies fatally shooting his wife Rachel, 27, and their nine-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in January.

Mr Entwistle is alleged to have committed the murders at their home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, before flying to the UK.

He was arrested on 9 February and agreed to be extradited to the US.

Internet search

It is reported that the District Attorney's office has filed a motion for a DNA specimen from the unemployed IT worker.

A police affidavit alleges that his DNA was found on a .22 calibre revolver which he is accused of committing the killings with.

Mr Weinstein did not say why Mr Entwistle was against giving a DNA sample.

Mr Entwistle, who also denies illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, is expected to face trial in April next year.

According to court papers, prosecutors believe he had run up debts of tens of thousands of dollars.

He also allegedly searched the internet days before the shootings for information on how to kill people and commit suicide.

The defence has claimed Mr Entwistle cannot get a fair trial in the US because of the media interest surrounding the case.

If found guilty of first-degree murder he would be sentenced to life in jail.

Rachel's mother and stepfather, Joseph and Priscilla Matterazzo, are expected to attend the pre-trial hearing at Middlesex Superior Court.

[michellek1976 0]

I only wish Massachusetts had the death penalty; this guy's such a scumbag.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5408688.stm

A Briton accused of murdering his US wife and baby is expected to fight a prosecution request for a DNA sample when he appears in an American court.

Neil Entwistle's lawyer Elliott Weinstein said his client would oppose the bid, the Boston Globe reported.

Mr Entwistle, 27, from Worksop, Notts, is due to appear at a pre-trial hearing in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He denies fatally shooting his wife Rachel, 27, and their nine-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in January.

Mr Entwistle is alleged to have committed the murders at their home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, before flying to the UK.

He was arrested on 9 February and agreed to be extradited to the US.

Internet search

It is reported that the District Attorney's office has filed a motion for a DNA specimen from the unemployed IT worker.

A police affidavit alleges that his DNA was found on a .22 calibre revolver which he is accused of committing the killings with.

Mr Weinstein did not say why Mr Entwistle was against giving a DNA sample.

Mr Entwistle, who also denies illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, is expected to face trial in April next year.

According to court papers, prosecutors believe he had run up debts of tens of thousands of dollars.

He also allegedly searched the internet days before the shootings for information on how to kill people and commit suicide.

The defence has claimed Mr Entwistle cannot get a fair trial in the US because of the media interest surrounding the case.

If found guilty of first-degree murder he would be sentenced to life in jail.

Rachel's mother and stepfather, Joseph and Priscilla Matterazzo, are expected to attend the pre-trial hearing at Middlesex Superior Court.

I've heard that Britain will not agree to extradite to a country / jurisdiction where the death penalty is being sought.

I don't agree with giving them the easy way out. Let their guilt torment them for the rest of their lives.

[homesick_american 1]

I've heard that Britain will not agree to extradite to a country / jurisdiction where the death penalty is being sought.

No EU country will, but Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty so it was a moot point. Besides, he was extradited back to the USA months ago.

I don't agree with giving them the easy way out. Let their guilt torment them for the rest of their lives.

Well, yes...I can see your point there, but the older I get the more I get the 'kill the bastards' feeling.

[michellek1976 0]

No EU country will, but Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty so it was a moot point. Besides, he was extradited back to the USA months ago.

What I meant is if Mass. did have the death penalty they probably wouldn't have been able to pursue it AND get him extradited.

Edited October 5, 2006 by michellek1976

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I've heard that Britain will not agree to extradite to a country / jurisdiction where the death penalty is being sought.

No EU country will, but Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty so it was a moot point. Besides, he was extradited back to the USA months ago.

As with the EU, also true of Canada--where several US fugitives sought (unsuccessfully, but they tied up the system considerable length of time) REFUGEE status. Among these:

• Charles Ng (took over 2 YEARS of Canadian taxpayer expense before they finally extradited him to CA; they could have easily given him to US federal gov't and asked a couple of Federal Marshals to "meet an RCMP escort with prisoner" at Sweetgrass/Coutts)
  
• Robert Judge--this one was a real prize. Got out on a "permitted outside visit home" after his mum won lottery (and bribed a guard--Judge was on PA death-row); promptly skipped across border and made his way across until arrested at Vancouver--where he asked for refugee status
  
• Lawrencia "Bambi" Bembenek, caught (ironically due to someone watching AMW) near Thunder Bay in 1990
  
• Nils Somby (Norwegian "adopted" into a northwestern tribe), 1987
  
• a KKK-member (can't remember the name, but read about in Calgary Herald in 1990) on FBI's watchlist
  

I don't agree with giving them the easy way out. Let their guilt torment them for the rest of their lives.

Well, yes...I can see your point there, but the older I get the more I get the 'kill the bastards' feeling.

With two of the examples I described (Ng and Judge), the "let guilt torment for lifetime" would not work--they were never even remorseful.

[homesick_american 1]

No EU country will, but Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty so it was a moot point. Besides, he was extradited back to the USA months ago.

What I meant is if Mass. did have the death penalty they probably wouldn't have been able to pursue it AND get him extradited.

Oh, OK...yes, I agree; Mass. probably would have had to assure the UK that while his crime made him eligible for the death penalty, they didn't intend to seek it. It's kind of unfair of the EU to do, but hey; at least they give them back to us most of the time when we ask.