Jun 27, 2008 12:12 am US/Eastern
Alternate Juror Talks About Entwistle Case
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
An alternate juror is talking about the conviction of Neil Entwistle. Scott Parsons of Arlington was there for the entire trial and has been talking to jurors since Entwistle was found guilty of first degree murder.
"We were very serious about it," said Parsons. "Everyday, we took the trial and everything about it very serious."
The experience was enlightening, Parsons said – even when Entwistle's defense team rested its case without calling any witnesses. "It was a surprise, but we were more-or-less told that this could happen. Not that it would, but the fact that this could happen."
He said the jury did consider the defense's claim that Rachel killed her infant daughter, Lillian, and then herself, but in the end, it just did not seem likely.
As for the emotion of it all, Entwistle's behavior in court and the images that tugged at so many people's heartstrings, Parsons said the jury was told to keep a level head. "As instructed by the judge, we had to put aside all of our emotions about it and just concentrate basically on the facts of the trial, and that's what we did."
Parsons sat through 12 days of testimony. After that, the alternates were picked, and he was one of them. So it was not until the end of the trial that he found out he would not be taking part in the deliberations. He said that was the hardest part of all of this for him, but said he would have gone along with what the jury decided in the end.
Parsons said he believes justice has been served.
WBZ spoke with Ashley Sousa, a member of the jury, off camera earlier.
Sousa said she's exhausted, but feels the jury did an amazing job making their decision.
The jury took a poll three times during deliberations, she said. The entire jury – made up of six men and six women – unanimously agreed Entwistle was guilty by the third vote.
Entwistle was convicted Wednesday of the murders of Lillian and his wife, Rachel, in 2006. Prosecutors say he was despondent over debt and dissatisfied with his sex life.
Jurors deliberated a day-and-a-half before reaching their verdicts. In addition to two first-degree murder charges, Entwistle also was convicted on two weapons charges.
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