Viewers of The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It? slammed the ‘very chilly’ and ‘extraordinarily impassive’ British teenage nanny who was jailed over the dying of an American toddler in her care in 1997.
The primary episode of the Channel 4 documentary, which aired final evening, explored the case of Louise Woodward, then 19, from Wirral, who 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 child died of mind accidents, with prosecutors alleging he had proven traditional signs of shaken child syndrome.
However the defence group as a substitute argued that his dying was precipitated by an damage he sustained weeks earlier than, and Woodward has all the time maintained her innocence.
Throughout her trial Woodward’s expressionless manner led to vitriolic criticism about her supposed coldness and lack of emotion.
Within the documentary, detective sergeant William Burns recalled: ‘The one factor I will all the time keep in mind is Louise Woodward by no means requested me how that youngster was doing.’
Woodward, who’s now mom to her personal younger daughter and goes by Elkes after taking her husband’s identify, 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 she or he was launched after serving 279 days in jail.
A lot of these watching accused Louise of being ‘extraordinarily impassive’, with one writing: ‘I believed she got here throughout as very chilly, it did not assist her.’
Viewers of The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It? slammed the ‘very chilly’ and ‘extraordinarily impassive’ Louise Woodward as a detective recalled how she ‘by no means requested’ how Matthew Eappen was after he was hospitalised with a mind damage
Simply 10 weeks after Louise began the job as nanny for the Eappens, the child died of mind accidents, with prosecutors alleging he had proven traditional signs of shaken child syndrome.
One other mentioned: ‘I believed it then and I believed it now, what an extremely chilly, chilly particular person Louise Woodward was.
‘No concern or remorse on the dying of the child. Not a tear shed in that courtroom. Chilling.’
One other wrote: ‘I used to be solely 11 when this story got here out in 1997. Listening to what’s being mentioned at this time, is simply terrible.
‘She does not appear to point out any emotion all through.’
Simon Holmes, Louise’s buddy, who met her on vacation in 1993, described her as ‘ beautiful and bubbly and pleasant’ within the documentary, saying: ‘We had related hobbies, going to the theatre and musicals – something to do with the humanities.
‘Louise needed to discover the world so it made sense she would go away from residence.’
A lot of these watching confessed they have been baffled by how ‘impassive’ Louise appeared in clips from the courtroom
In a clip from Panorama which aired in 1998, Louise recalled: ‘They have been lovable…they have been simply stunning youngsters.
‘They have been fairly devoted mother and father once they have been there. They might take turns every evening to come back residence and take the youngsters from me.’
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 12 months.
She was quickly employed by Sunil and Deborah Eappen, each 30-year-old docs, to maintain their younger son Matthew.
Nonetheless inside two months, the involved mother and father 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 youngsters’.
However on February 4, Woodward referred to 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.
Elaine Whitfield Sharp, defence group, recalled visiting Louise at a girls’s jail, saying: ‘What struck me about her, was how small she is and the way tiny her arms have been.
‘Matthew was an exquisite butterball of a child. For this little particular person to shake this massive child with such violence, it did not make any sense.’
On March 5, a grand jury determined Woodward should face a homicide cost.
At her trial, skilled prosecution witnesses claimed that Matthew’s accidents, together with a cracked cranium, confirmed the ‘triad’ of signs in keeping with him being violently shaken.
One video confirmed police officer William E Burn Jr describing his preliminary interviews with Louise in court docket.
He mentioned: ‘I observed she was surprisingly calm, her arms weren’t shaking, her eyes appeared centered on me.’
Louise, then 19, from Wirral, was discovered responsible in 1997 by a jury of killing eight-month-old Matthew whereas working as an au pair for his household in Massachusetts
Within the documentary, detective sergeant William Burns recalled Louise ‘by no means requested how the kid was doing’ after he suffered the mind damage
Martha Coakley, who was a part of the prosecution group, defined: ‘The crux of our case was that Matthew died of a shaking and an affect.’
In the meantime 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
Within the documentary, he 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 sturdy, that it needed to be shaken child syndrome. I can not (now) give testimony that may convict Louise Woodward past an inexpensive doubt.
‘I should not have accomplished that.’
However prosecution lawyer Gerry Leone advised the Solar there was ‘no query’ in his thoughts that Woodward was answerable for ‘killing Matthew’.
The case is being 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 throughout the trial
He added: ‘The defence took dissociated and generally random items of information to create a narrative which might steer the proof away from Louise Woodward.
‘However in the long run, 12 individuals who by no means met one another discovered that she was accountable, past affordable 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 mother and father and careers accused of SBS since 1995, mentioned: ‘It is primarily based 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 truth and despatched so many individuals to jail.’
In October, 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 attraction to cut back her conviction to involuntary manslaughter.
And emotions in regards to the case nonetheless run excessive in America; a decade after her case Woodward was dubbed ‘essentially the most infamous prison in Massachusetts’ by an American journal – beating a drug seller who had topped the FBI’s most needed record.
Woodward has all the time maintained her innocence, and her claims have been backed by varied medical specialists in recent times.
Nonetheless, her case noticed Woodward in an all-or-nothing trial, the place no cost lesser than second diploma homicide can be thought of, in keeping with the documentary makers.
Prosecutors claimed the child confirmed traditional signs of shaken child syndrome – which was denied by Louise Woodward’s group
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 instructor.
Earlier than her youngster was born Woodward advised 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 isn’t going to cease me main my life. I’m harmless. I’ve accomplished nothing mistaken. I’m entitled to get pleasure from my life. I’m not going to apologise for being joyful.’
After information of Woodward’s being pregnant emerged, Matthew’s aunt Mary Wong mentioned the legislation graduate had a ‘proper to have a toddler’, however prompt she take parenting lessons and study to regulate her mood.
She mentioned: ‘For the sake of her household I hope her parenting abilities have come a good distance. I feel that she must have parenting abilities and assist 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 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 choose throwing out the jury’s choice, 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.’