Text of Louise Woodward's statement:
"My family and I have been trying to readjust to life
together in the wake of my release from prison. This has proven
difficult because of the enormous number of requests for my
views and feelings about what has happened. I am not yet
prepared to make an extensive statement, nor be interviewed,
concerning the events of the past year, and I will not be
prepared to do so until legal proceedings have come to a
conclusion.
"However, I have asked my attorneys to release this
staement now, on my behalf, in an effort to respond in a limited
fashion.
"I am enormously relieved that Judge Zobel has seen fit to
give me back my liberty. I am confident that the future
direction of this case, including the ongoing efforts by my
lawyers to investigate further the science underlying the case,
will further justify Judge Zobel's decision.
"My relief at being freed does not reduce my desire to obtain total vindication in a case where, as I have said under
oath, I committed no crime whatsoever. I did not harm, much less
kill, Matthew Eappen.
"I have been deeply saddened by Matthew Eappen's death. I
experienced the horror of seeing him fail, as I testitifed in
court, and as anyone listening to the "911 tape" can readily
understand. I loved Matthew. I know that his family is unable to
understand or believe me, because they are so convinced that I
killed him or at least contributed to his death. I pray that
further investigation into the scientific evidence convinces the
Eappen family that I did their son no harm.
"I have heard rumors that I have sold my story, or rights
to my story, to the news media. I want to set the record
straight. I have done no such thing. I have accepted, and am
thankful for, EF Au Pair's payment of my legal fees and costs,
and I'm thankful for the contributions of friends, neighbors,
and supporters both here and in England that have made it
possible for my parents to travel and be with me and will now
make it possible for me to live in Massachusetts until my case
is concluded.
"I plan to make no further statement until the legal proceedings are over."