UK accused 'thought of suicide'

Neil Entwistle's wife and nine-month-old baby were found shot dead in 2006

A Briton accused of murdering his wife and daughter said when he found their bodies he was "trance-like" and wanted to kill himself, a US court has heard.

Neil Entwistle made the comments during a conversation with a US policeman, a recording of which has been played to the court in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Mr Entwistle from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, denies murdering his wife Rachel, 27, and baby Lillian Rose.

The 29-year-old faces life in prison without parole if convicted.

His American wife, and their nine-month-old daughter, were found dead at their home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on 20 January 2006.

I don't know why I did things the way I did. The first thing I wanted to do was to do something to myself Neil Entwistle

Mr Entwistle bought a one-way ticket to England the following day and did not call the emergency services, the court has heard.

The recorded conversation between Mr Entwistle and Middlesex State Trooper Robert Manning took place on 23 January, 2006, the court was told.

In the two-hour recording, Mr Entwistle said: "Looking back on it, I don't know why I did things the way I did. The first thing I wanted to do was to do something to myself."

'Perfect' relationship

When Mr Manning asked why he wanted to kill himself, Mr Entwistle said: "That was my wife and baby in bed.

I did think I could load the gun and shoot myself Neil Entwistle

Mr Entwistle said he was "trance-like" and that he "pulled the covers over them and the only thing I could think of was the knives we had got downstairs.

"I pulled the big one out and held it towards my chest. I think it was just the thought of how much it was going to hurt. I just couldn't do it.

"I don't know why I didn't (call the emergency services)."

Mr Entwistle also told Mr Manning that there were no problems between him and his wife and that their relationship was "perfect".

The tape of Neil Entwistle talking about the killings

Mr Entwistle told the US authorities after finding the bodies he got in his rented BMW X3 car and drove to Carver, Massachusetts, where Rachel's mother Priscilla and step-father Joseph Matterazzo lived.

"I knew that Joe had guns in the house and I did think that if I went to their house I did think I could load the gun and shoot myself," he said.

Asked if there was a reason why he wanted to hurt himself after finding the bodies, Mr Entwistle said: "No... No."

'Nice to talk'

"You're sure?" Mr Manning said. "I'm not saying you did anything, I'm just asking you, trying to rule out all possibilities of what took place there."

"No... No," Mr Entwistle said.

Later, Mr Entwistle agreed with Mr Manning that he did not try to help his wife and baby, the court heard.

"I didn't think there was anything to help," he said.

As he described the moment when he saw his baby's body, Mr Entwistle's said, with his voice breaking: "I pulled the covers back and that's when I saw Lilly. Lilly was such a mess".

He said he could not see any blood on his wife Rachel, but "it was all on Lilly".

The court heard Mr Entwistle tell the officer that the only time he cried was when he saw a Christmas present to his parents from baby Lillian in his parents conservatory.

At the end of the call, Mr Entwistle told Mr Manning that it was "nice to talk to someone about it".

The trial continues.