It was a homicide case that shocked the world in 1997, when a British teenage nanny was jailed over the dying of an American toddler in her care.
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.
Simply 10 weeks after she began the job, the newborn died of mind accidents, with prosecutors alleging he had proven traditional signs of shaken child syndrome.
However the defence crew as an alternative argued that his dying was precipitated by an harm he sustained weeks earlier than, and Woodward has at all times maintained her innocence.
Woodward, who’s now mom to her personal younger daughter and goes by Mrs Elkes after taking her husband’s title, was initially discovered responsible of second-degree homicide and given a life sentence.
However after an attraction, 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 polarising case is about to be re-examined in a brand new three-part documentary The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It?, with a medic admitting he would not give the identical proof in opposition to Woodward now.
Louise Woodward, then 19, from Wirral, was discovered responsible in 1997 by a jury of killing eight-month-old Matthew Eappen whereas working as an au pair for his household in Massachusetts
At her trial, skilled prosecution witnesses claimed that Matthew’s accidents, together with a cracked cranium, confirmed the ‘triad’ of signs per him being violently shaken.
Dr Patrick Barnes testified that it was the ‘traditional mannequin’ of shaken child syndrome (SBS) and dismissed the defence’s arguments, however the medic has now modified his thoughts, The Solar reported.
Within the documentary, which begins on Sunday, he has claimed that the science behind the prognosis of SBS is flawed and mentioned he could not now give proof to convict Woodward.
He mentioned: ‘I used to be very robust, that it needed to be shaken child syndrome. I am unable to (now) give testimony that will convict Louise Woodward past an affordable doubt.
‘I should not have performed that.’
However prosecution lawyer Gerry Leone advised the Solar there was ‘no query’ in his thoughts that Woodward was chargeable for ‘killing Matthew’.
Woodward was initially discovered responsible of second-degree homicide and given a life sentence, however after an attraction, her conviction was diminished to involuntary manslaughter. Pictured: Matthew
Now, the case is about to be re-examined in a brand new three-part documentary The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It?, with Dr Patrick Barnes (pictured) reassessing the proof he gave through the trial
He added: ‘The defence took dissociated and generally random items of info to create a narrative which might steer the proof away from Louise Woodward.
‘However ultimately, 12 individuals who by no means met one another discovered that she was accountable, past cheap doubt.’
In the meantime, British human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith claimed that there’s ‘no science’ surrounding SBS and mentioned it’s ‘latter-day voodoo’.
The lawyer, who has been representing dad and mom and careers accused of SBS since 1995, advised the publication: ‘It is based mostly on a 1972 speculation by British neurologist Norman Guthkelch, and it was only a speculation, with no factual foundation on which to show it.
‘Earlier than he died two years in the past, he mentioned how horrified he was that his concept had been accepted as reality and despatched so many individuals to jail.’
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 spot yr.
She was quickly employed by Sunil and Deborah Eappen, each 30-year-old docs, to handle their younger son Matthew.
Nonetheless inside two months, the involved dad and mom reportedly cautioned Woodward in opposition to her late nights staying out and drew up a listing of expectations in January 1997 to make sure ‘the protection and well-being of our children’, in accordance with the Irish Occasions.
However on February 4, Woodward referred to as an ambulance to the Eappens’ house after Matthew stopped respiration and he was placed on a life-support machine at Boston Youngsters’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.
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 received an attraction to cut 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 needed checklist.
Woodward has at all times maintained her innocence, and her claims have been backed by varied medical consultants lately.
Nonetheless, her case noticed Woodward in an all-or-nothing trial, the place no cost lesser than second diploma homicide could be thought-about, in accordance with the documentary makers.
Prosecutors claimed the newborn confirmed traditional signs of shaken child syndrome – which was denied by Louise Woodward’s crew
After a responsible verdict, justice protest rallies adopted in each the UK and US, on separate sides of the argument.
Lately, Woodward has embraced household life after marrying her businessman husband Anthony Elkes in 2013 and now works as a dance trainer.
Earlier than her little one was born Woodward advised The Day by day Mail: ‘I do know there are some individuals ready for me to have a child to allow them to say nasty issues.
‘It upsets me however that isn’t going to cease me main my life. I’m harmless. I’ve performed nothing fallacious. I’m entitled to get pleasure from my life. I’m not going to apologise for being pleased.’
After information of Woodward’s being pregnant emerged, Matthew’s aunt Mary Wong mentioned the legislation graduate had a ‘proper to have a baby’, however urged she take parenting lessons and be taught to regulate her mood.
She mentioned: ‘For the sake of her household I hope her parenting expertise have come a good distance. I feel that she must have parenting expertise and help for her child. I hope no hurt involves the kid.’
Dr Patrick Barnes testified it was the ‘traditional mannequin’ of shaken child syndrome, however the medic has now modified his thoughts. Pictured: Woodward at trial
The trial prompted justice protest rallies in each the UK and US, on separate sides of the argument. Pictured, supporters of Woodward marching by the village of Elton, Cheshire
With unprecedented entry to each defence and prosecution attorneys, detectives, paramedics and journalists, Louise Woodward: Villain or Sufferer? will element and re-examine the case, the trial and its conclusion which noticed the choose throwing out the jury’s determination, decreasing Woodward’s homicide conviction to involuntary manslaughter and releasing her from jail.
Fatima Salaria, Managing Director of Bare, mentioned: ‘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 either side of the story, this documentary gives a brand new perspective on the case.’
Daniel Fromm, Commissioning Editor for Factual Leisure at Channel 4, mentioned: ‘With privileged entry to a few of these near the case, this three-part documentary boxset gives fascinating insights right into a trial that gripped the general public’s consideration on either side of the Atlantic.’