The Trial Of Louise Woodward
About The Programme
Her televised trial was one of the most notorious cases in recent American legal history. We look back at the sensational "nanny" trial, which created a storm of controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.
The programme follows the tense case of 19-year-old British au pair Louise Woodward, who was convicted of second-degree murder in Boston for the death of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen - only to have the jury's verdict set aside by the judge.
The Trial
In 1997, British au pair Louise Woodward was found guilty of the death of Matthew Eappen. She appealed and the conviction of second-degree murder was reduced to involuntary manslaughter.
English law defines “involuntary manslaughter” where an individual kills as a result of some blameworthy act on their part but without intending to cause death or serious injury. Woodward's time in prison was reduced to 279 days – exactly the amount of time she had already spent in prison.
In response, Assistant District Attorney Gerald Leone called for an appeal to the state supreme court. In a 4-3 split decision the Supreme Court of Massachusetts presided over by Judge Hiller Zobel confirmed the reduced conviction and sentence in 1998. However, one of the seven judges described Woodward as a convicted felon who should never be allowed to work with children again or profit from her experience. Woodward returned to England soon after.
But matters didn’t end there. In America, the parents of Matthew Eappen, filed a lawsuit against her in the civil courts, claiming more than £75,000 in damages for the death of their son as well as seeking to prevent their former au pair from profiting by selling her story. Woodward not surprisingly failed to show up for the hearing, claiming she did not have the money to go through with the case. As a result, the Eappens won the hearing.
What Happened?
Prosecutors said that Woodward became so frustrated with baby Matthew’s crying that she shook him violently to keep him quiet. The nanny was also alleged to have dropped the child against a hard surface.
Medics who arrived at the Eappen household following Woodward's 911 call found that the baby had two-and-a-half inch skull fracture. Matthew's eyes were bulging - a possible sign of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The subsequent autopsy revealed the infant had suffered a fractured skull and died from his injury.
Woodward’s defence argued that Matthew Eappen may have had a genetic defect that contributed to his skull fracture. Another theory put forward was that the parents’ two-year-old son Brendan was the only other person at home at the time of the baby’s injury and could have caused the fatal damage.