| Location | Boston |
| Age | 11 months |
| Date of Birth | 3/1996 |
| Date of Death | 2/1997 |
| Visitors | 2,491 since 12/05/2007 |
| Creator |
Mathew lived with his elder brother and mum Deborah and father Sunil in Cambridge Ma, Louise
Woodward was the nanny that was hired to look after him.
Baby Matthew Eappen died on February 10, 1997, , from a fractured skull and subdural hematoma, six
days after being admitted to hospital and falling into a coma. The boy, eight months old, was also
found to have a fractured wrist, an unnoticed and unexplained injury from a month earlier. Dr. Lois
Smith, an ophthalmologist, observed retinal hemorrhages judged characteristic of shaken baby
syndrome.
The evidence presented in the televised trial was as follows. The prosecution, led by Martha
Coakley, presented eight physicians involved in Matthew Eappen's care, including a
neurosurgeon, an ophthalmologist, a radiologist, two pathologists and an expert in child abuse, who
testified to their belief that his injuries had occurred as a result of violent shaking and from his
head impacting with a hard surface. The defence presented expert medical testimony that the
infant's injury may have occurred three weeks before the date of death, implying that the
parents, Sunil Eappen and Deborah Eappen, were as fully implicated by circumstances as Ms. Woodward.
Woodward, however, admitted under cross-examination on the stand that she never noticed any slight
bumps, marks or any unusual behaviour by the baby at any time prior to the night he was taken to
hospital.
As part of her defence strategy, Woodward requested that the jury not be given the option of
convicting her of manslaughter, and instead either convict her of murder or find her not guilty.
On October 30, 1997, after 26 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict of murder in the
second degree, which carries a mandatory life sentence under Massachusetts law, of which a minimum
of 15 years have to be served.
On November 10, at a post-conviction relief hearing, Judge Hiller Zobel reduced the conviction to
involuntary manslaughter, stating that "the circumstances in which the defendant acted were
characterised by confusion, inexperience, frustration, immaturity and some anger, but not malice in
the legal sense supporting a conviction for second-degree murder", and adding: "I am
morally certain that allowing this defendant on this evidence to remain convicted of second-degree
murder would be a miscarriage of justice.
Judge Zobel reduced Woodward's sentence to time served (279 days) and she was freed. Assistant
District Attorney Gerald Leone then appealed the judge's decision to the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts. Woodward's lawyers also asked the Court to throw out her manslaughter
conviction. The Court affirmed the guilty verdict and the reduction in conviction to involuntary
manslaughter by a 7-0 vote. In a close, 4-3 split decision the Court rejected the prosecution's
appeal against the reduction of the conviction to involuntary manslaughter, and the sentence June
16, 1998. Woodward then returned to Great Britain.
GOD BLESS YOU ANGEL ** ~~ ** ~~ **
♥ I am the wind in your hair, with you everywhere
I am the stars in the sky and the sun up high ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am the waves in the ocean, with your every emotion
I am the snow on the ground, I am all around ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am the flowers in the meadow, wherever you go
I am the moon at night, please know I'm alright ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am the bird's sweet song, I am not gone
I am the blossom on a tree, you'll never forget me ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am the rain on your face, a rainbow's embrace
I am the leaves on the ground, I'll always be around ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am the fluffy white clouds, innocent and pure
Look all around you, you'll feel me I'm sure ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
♥ I am that warm loving feeling, deep in your heart
My memories live on, we'll never be apart ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ * ~~ ** ~**
♥ I am all around you, in all that you see, hear and do
Just reach right out now, I am always here with you ♥
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
unknown
SWEET DREAMS IN HEAVEN LITTLE ANGEL
… … … … … … .$
$ … … … … … $…$
$$… … … … $… … $
$$$… … … $ … … …$
$$$$… … $ … … … …$
$$$$$… $ … … … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$… … $…$…$…$…$…$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$… … … … … … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$… … … … … … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$… * NIGHT… … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$… * NIGHT… … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$… …* MATTHEW… … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$… *SLEEP… … … $
$$$$$$$$$$$$… PEACEFULLY …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$… … …ALWAYS… …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ … … … … … … … …$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$… … $…$…$…$…$…$
$$$$$…$… … … … … $
$$$$… …$… … … … $
$$$… … …$… … … $
$$… … … …$… … $
$… … … … …$… $
… … … … … … $ MY LOVE TO YOU ALWAYS.xxx
I AM HERE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am here...
Deep within your heart that yearns,
I am here...
I’m the flame that softly burns
And lights your way;
In the darkness of the night
I will be your shining light ...
I am here...
I am here...
In the misty morning dew,
I am here...
Standing closely beside you.
I’ll hold your hand ...
Let you feel a quiet peace,
I will be your sweet release.
I am here...
I am here...
In a haunting melody ...
I am here...
I will be that memory
That gives you strength.
When days are long
We’ll carry on...
I am here...
I am here...
As long as you do not forget,
I am here...
In your heart, I know, and yet...
It’s here I’ll stay,
I’ll never go,
We both will know...
That I am here....
♥ღ♥ Hold My Hand In Heaven ♥ღ♥
♥ღ♥ Hold my hand in heaven show me the way,
meet me at the pearly gates
I'll see you there some sweet day.
I don't care about the riches or fame I leave below It'll all mean nothing where were gonna go.
Hold my hand in heaven,
show me the way,
how I've missed you here on earth
I have so much to say.
I'll be the one with the smile on my face,
and I'll greet you with a warm embrace.
We'll walk down the streets of gold,
and stare at the sparkling flowing streams.
Hold my hand in heaven
like I've pictured all those times in my dreams.
Nothing on this earth could possibly compare,
to all the glory you have in heaven up there.
Once I reach my destination,
and I get see your face.
All will go well,
I'll be in my final resting place ♥ღ♥
By Lisa Reed
♥ღ♥ With Love Yvonne ♥ღ♥
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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lo9ve allways debbie xxx
If we could have a lifetime wish
A dream that would come true,
We'd pray to God with all our hearts
For yesterday and You.
A thousand words can't bring you back
We know because we've tried...
Neither will a thousand tears
We know because we've cried...
You left behind our broken hearts
And happy memories too...
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted You.
~Author Unknown~
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happy christmas sweetheart xxx
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