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S P E C I A L S The Au Pair Trial Reaction to Woodward decision
November 10, 1997
Web posted at: 12:55 p.m. EST (1755 GMT)CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- The world watched Monday as a judge revealed his decision to reduce the second-degree murder conviction of British au pair Louise Woodward to involuntary manslaughter for the death of an 8-month-old baby. Some of the immediate reaction:
England
In Woodward's hometown of Elton, a village near Liverpool, locals and Woodward supporters gathered at a pub to hear the decision.
"It's not good enough, I'm really disappointed," said one woman at the pub. "She should have been acquitted ... In my heart of hearts, speaking as a mother, I truly believe she is innocent. And I think this has been a complete sham."
A L S O :
Au pair's conviction reduced to involuntary manslaughter
"I'm very disappointed," said another woman at the pub. "I think it's terrible, I just think she's been made a scapegoat.
"She (Woodward) needs to have her name cleared, but not on the grounds of manslaughter."
United States
"It still proves that she's guilty," said Achamma Eappen, the dead baby boy's paternal grandmother. "I guess the judge knows what he's doing and as long as she (Woodward) pays for what she has done to baby Matthew," she said from her home in Hinsdale, Illinois. "All that we wanted was for us to know what has really happened and this still shows that she's guilty."
Watch the complete interview with nearby residents
1 min. 39 sec. VXtreme video
See the jury's verdict read (from last October 30)
Stephen Colwell, one of the jurors in the Woodward case, said he was pleased with Zobel's ruling.
"I am greatly relieved at this decision." Colwell said. "Had that option (manslaugther) been before us, we may have come to the same conclusion, so I think we can live with it," Colwell said in Dallas.
Correspondent Siobhan Darrow contributed to this report.
Special Report:
Related stories:
- World watches Web for au pair decision - November 9, 1997
- Au pair ruling to be released on Web - November 5, 1997
- Au pair defense lawyers argue for lesser charge - November 4, 1997
- Judge to reconsider au pair verdict - November 3, 1997
- Au pair supporters protest; attorneys prepare for hearing - November 3, 1997
- Juror: Panel believed nanny didn't intend to kill - November 2, 1997
- Au pair juror: Verdict speculation 'just crazy' - November 1, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Law Journal Extra
- Lawyers Weekly
- The Louise Woodward Campaign For Justice - official support site set up by family, friends and sympathetic supporters of the British au pair Louise Woodward
- Louise Woodward Support Page - supporters from Boston
- Court TV Casefiles: Massachusetts v. Woodward
- Shaken Baby Resource Centre - informational links, personal stories and articles about Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Home of the International Au Pair Association - non-profit organisation promoting unity between au pairs, host families and agencies
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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