Louise Woodward is a British nanny who was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of an eight-month-old baby.
She is a former British au pair who became the center of a media storm and legal battle in 1997. The trial of 19-year-old Louise for the murder of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen shocked the whole world.
The then 19-year-old Louise from Elton was looking after Matthew in Massachusetts when the baby stopped breathing and she immediately called an ambulance. Unfortunately, the baby died after six days from a brain hemorrhage.
Louise admitted to playing a little rough with the child days before his death. Initially, he was charged with the battery of a child; however, after the baby died, her charge was upgraded to first-degree murder.
Killer Nanny: Where Is Louise Woodward Now?
Louise Woodward now lives as a free woman and has started her own family. She returned to the United Kingdom after spending 279 days in jail.
She also gave an interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir. In the interview, she admitted to lightly shaking the baby when he appeared unresponsive on the evening of February 4.
Upon being released, Louise attended London South bank University to study Law and graduated with a 2:2. She joined a Manchester law firm and later changed her career path and became a dance instructor.
Louise tied her marital knot with the boss of a haulage truck hire company and the couple welcomed a beautiful daughter. She started her own school to teach salsa and jive.
The accused was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on February 9, 1997. Louise was denied bail and held until the trial took place at the MCI-Framingham prison in a high-security unit.
On November 10, judge Zobel reduced the charges to involuntary manslaughter, at a post-conviction relief hearing. He stated that the defendant’s action was characterized by inexperience, frustration, confusion, and immaturity, but not in the sense support e a conviction for second-degree murder.
How Long Did Louise Woodward Spend In Jail?
After a post-conviction relief hearing, Louise’s sentence was reduced to 279 days. It was the exact time she had already spent in jail and was freed.
Following 26 hours of deliberations on October 30, 1997, the jury found Louise guilty of second-degree murder, meaning a mandatory life sentence. The young nanny burst into tears upon hearing the verdict.
After days, it emerged that the jury had been split about the conviction, and one person further admitted that none of the members thought Louise attempted to murder the little boy, Matthew Eappen.
Louise’s legal team then filed post-conviction motions to the trial court on November 4. After six days, judge Zobel reduced her conviction to involuntary manslaughter. He sentenced her to 279 days in prison, which she had already spent.
The prosecution then challenged the decision to reverse the verdict and soon launched an appeal and brought the trial to the Supreme Court. The court decided by four votes to three in Louise’s favor, meaning the defendant was able to return to the United Kingdom.
More To Know About What Happened In Louise Woodward Case
Louise Woodward was a nanny looking after eight-month-old Matthew Eappen, in Massachusetts. She rushed and called an ambulance when the baby stopped breathing.
Matthew was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Boston. Five days later, the child fell into a coma and tragically died on February 9, 1997, from a subdural hematoma and a fractured skull.
Doctors also found a fractured wrist, an unexplained and unnoticed injury from a month earlier. An ophthalmologist, Lois E.H. Smith, observed retinal hemorrhages judged characteristic of SBS (shaken-baby syndrome).
The trial took place in October 1997, where Louise continued to maintain her innocence. The prosecution alleged the nanny murdered the child in an unhappy, frustrated, and relentless rage.
On October 30, 1997, the jury found Louise guilty of second-degree murder. She received life imprisonment with a minimum of fifteen years to be served. However, her legal team filed post-conviction to the trial court.
Following a post-conviction hearing on November 10, judge Zobel reduced Louise’s conviction to involuntary manslaughter. Her sentence was reduced to time served, 279 days, and was freed.