Entwistle's parents standing by him

Cliff and Yvonne Entwistle left Middlesex Superior Court yesterday, where jury selection began in the murder trial of their son, Neil. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Associated Press)

WOBURN - The parents and brother of Neil Entwistle sat behind him yesterday on the second day of jury selection in Middlesex Superior Court and planned to stay for the duration of a trial that is capturing attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

"We know that our son, Neil, is innocent, 100 percent innocent," said Entwistle's father, Clifford, who flew in Monday from England with his wife, Yvonne, and younger son, Russell, to attend the trial, expected to last three weeks.

Entwistle, 29, is charged with murder in the shooting deaths of his wife, Rachel, 27, and their 9-month-old daughter, Lillian Rose, in January 2006. Their bodies were discovered by police conducting a wellness check at the couple's rented house in Hopkinton. Neil Entwistle had traveled to England two days before the bodies were found.

Elliot Weinstein, Entwistle's lawyer, said yesterday during a lunch break that the Entwistle family has always supported Neil and that they remain saddened by the loss of a part of their family.

"They have been supportive of him always," Weinstein said. "They love him dearly. The loss they have suffered is not just that their son is dealing with such horror, but because they have lost a daughter-in-law and they have lost a granddaughter. This is not an easy time for them."

Family members of Rachel Entwistle and Lillian have not attended during jury selection.

Yesterday, the second day of jury selection, Judge Diane Kottmyer qualified 16 more jurors alongside the eight jurors from the first day, for a total pool of 24. There are nine men and 15 women. Today will begin with lawyers from the prosecution and defense challenging qualified jurors whom they do not think appropriate for duty. The trial will require 12 regular jurors and four alternates.

Entwistle has kept a cool demeanor while sitting next to his cocounsel Stephanie Page, conferring with her and Weinstein. He is brought to court early in the morning in one of three sport utility vehicles operated by the Middlesex sheriff's department. Yesterday he wore a dark suit with a pink shirt and a purple tie. He turned when he was leaving the courthouse to smile and wave to his family.

Weinstein has been critical of Kottmyer for the way she has been questioning the jury pool. Yesterday he said Kottmyer's questions were better but that he was "not happy at the attitudes [from jurors] we're hearing and we are not being given enough consideration by the judge. She does not seem willing - in fact, she is unwilling - to make the necessary changes."

Weinstein, during the proceedings yesterday, repeatedly pressed Kottmyer to question prospective jurors whether they believed that Entwistle is guilty. The judge repeatedly refused his request, but she did apply some of the questions that Weinstein suggested to some of the jurors.