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Convicted nanny's 'innocence' claim upsets Eappens

Arthur J Pais in New York

Sunil Eappen and his family are not amused with what Louise Woodward has been saying of late.

It has been three months since Woodward, who was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of eight-month-old baby Mathew, was sent back to her home in England. Mathew was the second child of physicians Sunil and Deborah Eappen.

The judge, who released Woodward considering the eight months she served while awaiting trial, says he did the right thing.

Back home Woodward is not only continuing to proclaim her innocence but is blaming the media for her plight.

The 20-year-old former nanny's trial attracted a global television audience. Now Woodward says: television added to the stress and notoriety with which she now has to live.

''I am just trying to be a normal 20-year-old, trying to be a normal person, and people won't let me do that,'' she told hundreds of television producers and executives during a debate on allowing cameras into court. She spoke at the Edinburgh International Television Festival this week. Woodward argued that cameras in court turn trials into popular entertainment.

The Eappens, who had a third baby a few weeks ago, have been telling their friends that Woodward tried her best to manipulate television coverage during the trial.

''People don't seem to be able to distinguish between celebrity and notoriety. They ask for autographs and photographs and things. They ask me to sign baseball caps, which I find ridiculous,'' she said in Edinburgh.

The Eappens filed a civil suit against her soon after her release, but Woodward was no show at the initial hearing. Even if the Eappens win the case against her, and the jury rewards them with a financial settlement, they would not be able to collect any money from her.

The Eappens, who have set apart about $ 25,000 as seed money to start a national programme for creating more awareness about child abuse, know their fight is largely symbolic.

They have asked that any money Woodward might make by writing a book, giving interviews, and selling movie rights of her ordeal are given to the Eappens. There was speculation in July that Woodward might receive $ 1 million for rights to a television film, but she has denied she ever negotiated a movie deal or contemplated any deal at all.

Legal experts believe that even if she made money selling her life story, the Eappens would not be able to touch the money because England and America do not have a legal provision for transferring such money.

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