June 27, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429

WOBURN (Massachusetts): A British man convicted of shooting dead his wife and nine-month-old daughter was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Neil Entwistle, 29, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of killing his American wife Rachel, 27, and their nine-month-old daughter Lillian.

First degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in Massachusetts and an automatic appeal.

The state of Massachusetts and the mother of the dead woman had requested two consecutive life sentences to recognise two lives lost, but Kottmeyer imposed two concurrent sentences instead. “Absent a pardon by the governor, there is no possibility of release from prison,” she said.

She also barred Entwistle from profiting in any way from the sale of his story “either by way of a book or otherwise to any media outlet.” He sat impassive throughout the hearing, where Rachel Entwistle’s mother, stepfather and brother all gave wrenching statements. His lawyer said Entwistle did not wish to address the court.

—AFP