BOSTON -- A British man accused of killing his wife and baby daughter pleaded not guilty to murder charges in Middlesex Superior Court Tuesday.

Neil Entwistle, 27, formerly of Hopkinton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition in connection with the Jan. 20, 2006, slayings of Rachel, 27, and 9-month-old Lillian Rose Entwistle.

Neil Entwistle glanced briefly toward the area where Rachel Entwistle's family sat in court. The family's spokesman commented on their behalf after Tuesday's court proceedings.

"These are difficult times from the family. They miss Rachel and Lillian Rose every minute of every day. Today's indictment and arraignment will bring them one step closer to justice in this case. Lillian Rose would have turned 1 years old on April 9, on Sunday," spokesman Joseph Flaherty said.

Neil Entwistle's attorney said he did not believe his client could get a fair trial because of the extensive coverage of the case.

"Nothing the last month or six weeks have done anything to lessen my belief that it is impossible, absolutely impossible for Neil Entwistle to receive a fair trial by jurors who are not biased against him as a result of everything that they have heard and everything that they have seen about him," defense attorney Elliot Weinstein said.

According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2006, invited guests arrived at the family's 6 Cubs Path residence in Hopkinton. The guests found the home locked and it did not appear that anyone was home. Rachel Entwistle's mother later contacted the Hopkinton Police Department and reported that she had not been able to contact her daughter.

The police conducted a well-being check at the residence on Jan. 21, but did not find anything amiss. On Sunday, Jan. 22, family and friends returned to the house to look for the family. Rachel Entwistle's family went to the police station to file missing persons reports for the family. When the police returned to the home to conduct a second search, officers found the mother and baby dead under bedding and pillows in the home's master bedroom.

Autopsies concluded that Rachel Entwistle died of a gunshot wound to the head and Lillian died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

A warrant was issued for Neil Entwistle's arrest on Feb. 8, 2006. Investigators say Neil Entwistle shot and killed his wife and daughter on Friday, Jan. 20. Investigators have determined that he left Massachusetts for his family’s home in England on Saturday morning.

According to court documents, Neil Entwistle did not go directly to his parents' home when he returned to England. Instead, prosecutors claim he rented a car, spent a night at a hotel, then drove about 800 miles around England before going home.

Police say in their initial conversation with Neil Entwistle, he said he had no problems in his business or personal life that would cause anyone to kill his family. But prosecutors later discovered that he had tens of thousands of dollars of debt. They also discovered through his laptop that he accessed a Web site, Adult Friend Finder, just days before the slayings. On that Web site, according to documents filed in court Tuesday, prosecutors allege that he sent a series of e-mails between himself and another person that said he is "in a current relationship but looking for a bit more fun in the bedroom."

Neil Entwistle was arrested in England on Feb. 9, and U.S. marshals escorted him back to the United States. He was arraigned in Framingham District Court on Feb. 16. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. He was indicted by a grand jury on March 28.

Neil Entwistle's trial is expected to begin in April 2007.