Judge rejects delay in Entwistle case

November 14, 2007 05:12 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

A Middlesex Superior Court judge has rejected a bid by Neil Entwistle's lawyers to delay his trial on charges of murdering his wife and 9-month-old daughter in Hopkinton last year.

Judge Diane Kottmyer's ruling means that the trial is still slated to begin Jan. 28.

Entwistle's lawyers have argued that they need more time to review evidence that prosecutors have shared with them.

"There is a large volume of information that has been newly received by us," said Elliot Weinstein, one of Entwistle's attorneys. "In order to properly evaluate that information, in order to be properly prepared to defend Mr. Entwistle, we need the additional time."

Weinstein said the defense would continue to try to get more time to prepare. The defense would like a March trial date, he said.

The trial has already been rescheduled once. It was originally slated to begin Oct. 1.

"Our position was that we are prepared for trial in January and oppose the motion to continue" the case, said Corey Welford, a spokesman for District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.

Prosecutors allege that Entwistle shot and killed his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Lillian, in their Hopkinton home on the morning of Jan. 20, 2006. Entwistle left for his family's home in England the next day. He was arrested in England several weeks later.