English/Nat
Former au pair Louise Woodward has returned to her home town as new medical evidence emerged lending wight to the claims that she was responsible for the death of 8-month old Matthew Eappen.
The 20-year-old, who was convicted of manslaughter in the U-S, has proclaimed her innocence and predicts that she will eventually clear her name.
However a report in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine on shaken baby syndrome lends support to prosecutors' claims that baby Matthew died after his head was shaken or knocked against a hard surface by Woodward.
It was all smiles for the Woodward family - reunited for the first time in two years.
Posing for photographers outside their home in the little village of Elton.
Its streets were nearly deserted on Thursday when the former au pair returned, in contrast to scenes of wild rejoicing when a Massachusetts court let her out of jail in November.
Declaring the Woodward family needed privacy with their daughter, villagers tried to go about their business as normal.
Earlier on Thursday, the former au pair faced the world's media at nearby Manchester Airport with her parents at her side.
Looking composed after her long flight from Boston, she began by making a short statement stating her innocence.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As I've said time and time again I did not hurt Matthew and I did not kill baby Matthew and I just hope that the medical community will take up my case now that all avenues of appeal are closed now to help prove my innocence."
SUPER CAPTION: Louise Woodward
Along with her conviction, Woodward also faces a temporary injunction barring her from spending any money from selling her story about her experience.
The au pair has granted one interview to the B-B-C free-of-charge and will not receive payment.
In any case, Woodward says she has made a decision not to sell her story.
The au pair has reason to be wary of the media, blaming pre-trial publicity for contributing to her manslaughter verdict.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I didn't get a fair trial with the missing medical evidence. I didn't receive a fair trial and I think the only way to do it know is through educating people. I'm all in favour of educating people against shaking baby syndrome, there really isn't enough known about it and hopefully prevent mistakes being made and avoid a rush to judgement like in my case."
SUPER CAPTION: Louise Woodward
But Woodward may encounter problems trying to prove this.
A report in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine contradicts the defence's argument that an earlier head injury caused baby Matthew's death.
The article by four University of Pennsylvania researchers says there is no evidence to suggest that children with severe head injuries can be lucid for a prolonged period between the injury and the onset of symptoms.
The report said this means that an acute injury in an alert, well-appearing child will become clinically obvious hours to days later.
That means it is unlikely that - as the defence tried to prove - that Matthew was injured, showed no symptoms for up to three weeks, and then suddenly began to re-bleed, causing his eventual death.
Nevertheless, Woodward has vowed to clear her name.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Of course I am upset I have a conviction, but it's a conviction I don't deserve. But I think in time the truth will come and in time I will be cleared."
SUPER CAPTION: Louise Woodward
When asked about her future, Woodward said that while her life would never be the same again, she was determined to try to continue with her plans.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As for future I guess I have to think about that too, I'd like to go to university like I was planning to do in the first place, I'd like to do what any other 20 year old would do, I'd like to get a part-time job and just do normal things."
SUPER CAPTION: Louise Woodward
For the moment, Woodward will stay at home and try to get her life back on track.
