FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Neil Entwistle, the young father arrested in connection with the deaths of his wife and baby, will appear in Framingham District Court Thursday to face murder charges.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that his lawyer admits he's facing an uphill battle defending the 27-year-old British citizen who's in jail in Framingham.

Entwistle arrived back in the United States Wednesday evening under heavy security. He was flown back to the state on a small, government jet and landed at Hanscom Airforce Base cuffed, shackled and wearing a bulletproof vest. Under a heavy state police escort, he was led to a police cruiser and taken to the Hopkinton, Mass., police station.

Thursday, Entwistle will face two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife Rachel, 27, and 9-month-old daughter, Lillian. They were found slain in the couple's Hopkinton home on Jan. 22 after family and friends asked police to conduct a welfare check on the family. Both had been shot by a small-caliber handgun. Entwistle flew to England a day after the shootings and was staying with his parents. He agreed to voluntarily return to the U.S. to face charges.

Entwistle's court-appointed attorney said he was concerned his client would not be able to get a fair trial because of publicity surrounding the case.

"This is the most pervasive and prejudicial publicity that I've ever seen in a case in Massachusetts. The man has just come into the country to face a charge, a serious charge, of double homicide and there's been nothing but media attention playing out what they believe to be the facts," attorney Elliot Weinstein said.

Weinstein will get $100 an hour to represent Entwistle, the fee paid for by Massachusetts taxpayers because Entwistle is considered indigent. Assistant District Attorney Michael Fabbri will prosecute the case. At least one legal expert said he thinks Entwistle can get a fair trial in the Bay State.

"[Weinstein] knows how to raise issues of pre-trial prejudice and the like. He knows how to raise supression issues about searches that were conducted at the house, interrogations that were conducted by telephone. I mean, there are a number of issues," attorney Paul Kelly said.

Entwistle is expected to plead not guilty at his arraignment. Rachel Entwistle's mother and stepfather are expected to be in the courtroom.

NewsCenter 5 will carry the Entwistle arraignment live at 2 p.m. and the hearing will be livestreamed on The Boston Channel.com.