A BRITISH man burdened by debt shot his American wife and their baby daughter in an aborted murder and suicide plan, it was claimed yesterday.
But Neil Entwistle allegedly changed his mind after killing his wife and child.
Instead of turning the gun on himself he is alleged to have covered his tracks before fleeing to England.
The murder weapon came from his father-in-law’s collection and the Briton is accused of putting it back before he caught his flight.
The allegations against him were disclosed yesterday by Martha Coakley, the district attorney for Middlesex County, Massachusetts, as Mr Entwistle, 27, was arrested in London on an extradition warrant. He was arrested by Scotland Yard detectives yesterday morning after they boarded a London Underground train at Royal Oak station in West London. The train was held at the station at their request for the arrest to be made.
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Mr Entwistle is accused of shooting his wife Rachel, also 27, in the head before turning the gun on his nine-month-old daughter, Lillian, as she lay on the bed beside her mother in a rented home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on January 22.
Last night Mr Entwistle was remanded in custody at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court after telling the court that he would not consent to extradition. If he is convicted in the United States he faces life in jail.
A week ago Mr Entwistle, who had been described “as a person of interest” by US police, met American officers at the US Embassy but is believed to have refused to answer questions.
Days later police say that they had the evidence they needed. Ms Coakley began the extradition process on Wednesday after forensic evidence linked Mr Entwistle and his wife to the .22 handgun used in the murders.
Describing the case against the unemployed computer programmer she said that he and his family moved to the US leaving debts in Britain.
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She said there was no evidence of past trouble in the family but in the months leading up to the murders there were financial difficulties.
In the US Mr Entwistle attempted to start businesses on the internet and through the eBay auction site. He also took out a lease and other financial “obligations” but found himself in financial difficulty. “He had no money and he had no assets,” Ms Coakley said. “He had no income to support his family.” The DA said that on the night of Thursday, January 19, Mrs Entwistle was alive and had spoken to family members. She died hours later.