Woodward loses legal fees

Woodward loses legal fees

The trust fund set up to clear Louise Woodward's name will be used to finance her appeal to overturn her conviction for the involuntary manslaughter of Matthew Eappen, her parents said yesterday. Her American au pair agency will no longer pay her legal costs. So far, the legal fees have been covered by EF Au Pair, the agency that placed the 19-year-old with the family of eight-month-old Matthew.

Woodward was convicted by a jury in October of second-degree murder for the baby's death. A judge reduced the verdict to manslaughter and the sentence from life in prison to the time she already served - 279 days. Both sides have appealed. Woodward is expected to attend the three-part appeal due to start on 6 March.