Infamous ‘killer nanny’ Louise Woodward pictured for first time in years as she shops in UK town after TV show announced

INFAMOUS nanny, Louise Woodward, who was accused of murdering an eight-month-old baby, has been pictured for the first time in years as she shops in a UK town. Woodward’s gripping trial for the murder of baby Matthew Eappen in Massachusettts sent shockwaves around the globe in 1997. Louise Woodward, who went on trial for the murder of baby Matthew Eappen in 1997, has been pictured for the first time in years Credit: BackGrid Woodward was 18 at the time with the US trial sending shockwaves around the world Credit: AP:Associated Press The former au pair, from Elton, Cheshire, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after the eight-month-old died under her care. The then 18-year-old had initially been found guilty of second-degree murder, accused of shaking Matthew to death just ten weeks after flying to the US. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! But her conviction was soon reduced to involuntary manslaughter and, after spending 289 days in jail, she returned to the UK. Woodward, now 48, was pictured on August 1 for the first time in years, where she was seen shopping in Shropshire, 29 years after the horror unfolded. The now 48-year-old was pictured on August 1 Credit: BackGrid She was snapped shopping in Shropshire, 29 years after the horror unfolded Credit: BackGrid The story of Woodward’s life and trial is now set to enter the limelight once again after HBO announced a major new drama. A five-part limited series, The Trial Of Louise Woodward, will re-tell the shocking story which became a media sensation. Directed by Welsh producer, Matthew Barry, the show will feature The White Lotus star and two-time Emmy nominee, Meghann Fahy. Woodward’s story began when she swapped Cheshire for Boston in 1996, flying 3,100 miles to work as an au pair after finishing her A-Levels. Most read in The Sun She was hired Sunil and Deborah Eappen, both 30-year-old doctors, to take care of their young son Matthew, that November. But the following February, Woodward called an ambulance after the eight-month old suddenly stopped breathing. He was raced to Boston Children’s Hospital and put on a life support machine – but six days later, he tragically died of a brain haemorrhage. Woodward was arrested on February 5, and experts said Matthew’s injuries were classic symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome – a forceful action that causes serious brain damage or death. In a polarising trial that split opinion across the Atlantic, both sides of the aisle hammered home their arguments. Woodward maintained her innocence throughout with her defence arguing that Matthew’s horror injuries were sustained at an earlier date. Woodward had initially been sentenced to life after she was found guilty of second-degree murder Credit: Reuters But the sentence was later reduced and instead jailed for 278 days Credit: Reuters But the prosecution alleged she killed the baby in a “frustrated, unhappy and relentless rage” – a claim the au pair’s lawyers strongly rejected. Woodward was also criticised for for appearing “cold” and “remorseless”. While under cross-examination, Woodward clarified that she had “popped” and not “dropped” the baby – as police officers had previously claimed. Later, she explained that to “pop” was an English term meaning to “lay” or to “place” but had admitted to playing “a little roughly” with the child days before his death. In October 1977, Woodward wept in the docks as she was found guilty of a lesser second-degree murder charge and was later sentenced to life in prison. Outside the court, the teen’s mother said: “They’ve made a horrendous mistake and they need to put it right.” Just days after her conviction, it emerged that the jury was split before they were convinced in favour of finding the teen guilty. According to one jury member, none of them “thought she tried to murder” Matthew. The defence launched an appeal and within 10 days of being sentenced to life in prison, Woodward was released. Judge Hiller Zobel overturned the jury’s verdict and ruled that she was guilty of involuntary manslaughter. He sentenced her to 278 days in jail at MCI-Framingham, a maximum security-unit – the amount of time she had already spent behind bars. The following day, the prosecution vowed to “pull out every stop” to get Woodward back in jail and her lawyers promised “total vindication”. By June 1998, Judge Zobel’s verdict had been overturned after it was claimed he “abused his statutory discretion” and the decision moved to the Supreme Court. By four votes to three, his verdict of involuntary manslaughter and the reduced sentence was upheld, which finally allowed Woodward to return home to the UK as a free woman. Woodward later went on to graduate with a law degree and tied the knot with her husband, Anthony Elkes, in 2013. Louise and Anthony also have a daughter together, who would now be over 12-years-old.