It was a homicide trial that made headlines all over the world, after a British teenage nanny was jailed over the loss of life of an American toddler in her care.
In 1997, Louise Woodward, then 19, from Wirral, was discovered responsible by a jury of killing eight-month-old Matthew Eappen whereas working as an au pair for his household in Newton, Massachusetts.
The infant died of mind accidents simply 10 weeks after she began the job, with prosecutors alleging Matthew had proven traditional signs of shaken child syndrome.
Nevertheless, the defence staff argued his loss of life had been attributable to an harm he sustained weeks earlier than, and Woodward, who’s now mom to her personal younger daughter and goes by Mrs Elkes after taking her husband’s identify, has all the time maintained her innocence.
She was initially discovered responsible of second-degree homicide and given a life sentence however after an enchantment, her conviction was diminished simply 10 days later to involuntary manslaughter and he or she was launched after serving 279 days in jail.
Now, the controversial trial is to be re-examined in a brand new three-part documentary titled Louise Woodward: Villain or Sufferer? by Channel 4, set to air later this yr.
In 1997, Louise Woodward (pictured left), then 19, from Wirral, was discovered responsible by a jury of killing eight-month-old Matthew Eappen (pictured proper) whereas working as an au pair for his household in Newton, Massachusetts
Louise Woodward pictured in 2017 along with her three-year-old daughter in Shropshire
Woodward was 18-years-old when she travelled 3,100 miles to work as an au pair for an company in Boston after ending her A-levels in 1996 and eager to take a niche yr.
She was quickly employed by Sunil and Deborah Eappen, each 30-year-old medical doctors, to handle their younger son Matthew.
Nevertheless inside two months, the involved dad and mom reportedly cautioned Woodward in opposition to her late nights staying out and drew up an inventory of expectations in January 1997 to make sure ‘the security and well-being of our children’, in response to the Irish Times.
However on February 4, Woodward known as an ambulance to the Eappens’ residence after Matthew stopped respiratory and he was placed on a life-support machine at Boston Kids’s Hospital. He died of a mind haemorrhage on February 10.
Woodward was arrested 5 days earlier, with police saying she admitted to having shaken Matthew and thrown him on a pile of towels – however she pleaded not responsible to battery of a kid.
Woodward, pictured along with her husband Antony Elkes, now has her personal younger daughter and goes by Mrs Elkes
The controversial trial is to be re-examined in a brand new three-part documentary titled Louise Woodward: Villain or Sufferer? by Channel 4, set to air later this yr. Pictured, Woodward on trial
Matthew (pictured) died of mind accidents simply 10 weeks after Woodward began the au pair job
On March 5, a grand jury determined Woodward should face a homicide cost, and in October that yr, a jury finds her responsible of second-degree homicide, with the British teenager collapsing into tears when the decision is given.
She was jailed for 15 years, however launched after simply 279 days when she gained an enchantment to scale back her conviction to involuntary manslaughter.
Throughout her trial Woodward’s expressionless manner led to vitriolic criticism about her supposed coldness and lack of emotion.
And emotions in regards to the case nonetheless run excessive in America; a decade after her case Woodward was dubbed ‘essentially the most infamous felony in Massachusetts’ by an American journal – beating a drug vendor who had topped the FBI’s most wished record.
Woodward has all the time maintained her innocence, and her claims have been backed by varied medical consultants lately.
Nevertheless, her case noticed Woodward in an all-or-nothing trial, the place no cost lesser than second diploma homicide can be thought-about, in response to the documentary makers.
After a responsible verdict, justice protest rallies adopted in each the UK and US, on separate sides of the argument.
In recent times, Woodward has embraced household life after marrying her businessman husband Anthony Elkes in 2013 and now works as a dance instructor.
Earlier than her little one was born Woodward instructed The Each day Mail: ‘I do know there are some folks ready for me to have a child to allow them to say nasty issues.
‘It upsets me however that’s not going to cease me main my life. I’m harmless. I’ve completed nothing fallacious. I’m entitled to get pleasure from my life. I’m not going to apologise for being glad.’
After information of Woodward’s being pregnant emerged, Matthew’s aunt Mary Wong stated the regulation graduate had a ‘proper to have a baby’, however steered she take parenting lessons and be taught to manage her mood.
She stated: ‘For the sake of her household I hope her parenting abilities have come a great distance. I feel that she must have parenting abilities and help for her child. I hope no hurt involves the kid.’
Prosecutors claimed the infant confirmed traditional signs of shaken child syndrome – which was denied by Louise Woodward’s staff
Justice protest rallies adopted in each the UK and US, on separate sides of the argument. Pictured, supporters of Louise Woodward marching by way of the village of Elton, Cheshire
With unprecedented entry to each defence and prosecution legal professionals, detectives, paramedics and journalists, Louise Woodward: Villain or Sufferer? will element and re-examine the case, the trial and its conclusion which noticed the decide throwing out the jury’s resolution, decreasing Woodward’s homicide conviction to involuntary manslaughter and releasing her from jail.
Fatima Salaria, Managing Director of Bare, stated: ‘The media circus round this story means it has remained within the public consciousness for over 20 years.
‘With the chance to look again with contemporary eyes alongside unique entry to each side of the story, this documentary affords a brand new perspective on the case.’
Daniel Fromm, Commissioning Editor for Factual Leisure at Channel 4, stated: ‘With privileged entry to a few of these near the case, this three-part documentary boxset affords fascinating insights right into a trial that gripped the general public’s consideration on each side of the Atlantic.’
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