Stepfather On Witness Stand ~ 06/09/08

Joseph Matterazzo, step father of Rachel Entwistle,
takes the stand at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn today.



Matterazzo: Entwistle said he ’left’ wife and daughter side-by-side
By Joe Dwinell


Monday, June 9, 2008 - Updated 2m ago
WOBURN – In a “whimpering” series of calls, Neil Entwistle told his father-in-law to bury his murdered wife and child side-by-side because that’s the way he “left them, I mean, that’s the way I found them.”

The explosive testimony came today as in-law Joseph Matterazzo took the stand in the second day of the double-murder case in Middlesex Superior Court.

Entwistle said he wanted his wife and child together forever because, “That’s the way I left them, I mean, that’s the way I found them,” Matterazzo said Entwistle told him over the phone.

“And that’s your best recollection of what he said?” asked prosecutor Michael Fabbri.

“That’s exactly what he said,” Matterazzo added.

Neil Entwistle, 29, is accused of murdering his wife, Rachel, 27, and baby girl, Lillian Rose, 9 months, in their rented Hopkinton home on Jan. 20, 2006.

Days after the murders, Matterazzo, Rachel’s 61-year-old Carver stepfather, testified that he began receiving a series of calls from Neil, who had returned home to England.

Entwistle was first apologetic saying, “I don’t know how things got like this,” Matterazzo testified.

“He said it was just ‘a big mess,”’ Matterazzo added.

Matterazzo pressed Neil if he murdered Rachel and Lilly or knew who may have done it, he added.

“He said ‘No,’’’ Matterazzo testified.

“He was shaky, a little nervous and whimpering,” said Matterazzo, who added he also questioned his son-in-law over why he repeatedly mentioned his gun collection. Entwistle responded that he wanted to use one of the guns to kill himself after coming upon the bodies of his slain wife and child, according to testimony today.

Matterazzo is expected to face blistering cross-examination by the defense after the mid-day break.

Matterazzo, who caught himself in an emotional pause when recalling the moment the Hopkinton police chief told him of the murdered bodies being discovered, was the key prosecution witness today.

He said he “loved” Neil and welcomed him into his small house as part of the family.

Matterazzo also testified that Neil, calling from his family’s Worksop, England, home, also dismissed press reports of his alleged “pornographic” rummaging on the Web and reported “e-mails” to escort services as “ridiculous.”

Matterazzo also testified that Neil picked up firing weapons – including the alleged murder weapon – when he took him target practicing in the fall of 2005.

“He did quite well,” Matterazzo said, describing his son-in-law as a quick study with weapons. Matterazzo told the court he invited Neil along in October and November to the Old Colony Sportsman’s Club in Pembroke to target practice.

“We explained safety rules and cease-fire ... to load, shoot at targets,” said Matterazzo. “I thought he did very well with it.”

joed@bostonherald.com



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