Channel 4 Orders Louise Woodward: Villain or Victim?

Channel 4 has commissioned Naked to produce a three-part docuseries on the Louise Woodward murder trial.

Louise Woodward: Villain or Victim? will explore the 1997 case that saw the eponymous 19-year-old British nanny charged with murdering 8-month-old Matthew Eappen in Massachusetts. The series has been commissioned for Channel 4 and All 4.

In Woodward’s trial, no charge lesser than second-degree murder would be considered. The trial resulted in the jury delivering a guilty verdict after being presented with evidence of symptoms synonymous with Shaken Baby Syndrome. Justice protest rallies followed in both the U.K. and U.S., on separate sides of the debate.

Louise Woodward: Villain or Victim? will feature access to both defense and prosecution lawyers, detectives, paramedics and journalists. It will detail and re-examine the divisive case, trial and its conclusion, which saw the judge throw out the jury’s decision, reducing Woodward’s murder conviction to involuntary manslaughter and releasing her from prison.

Fatima Salaria, managing director of Naked, said: “The media circus around this story means it has remained in the public consciousness for over 20 years. With the opportunity to look back with fresh eyes alongside exclusive access to both sides of the story, this documentary offers a new perspective on the case.”

Daniel Fromm, commissioning editor for factual entertainment at Channel 4, said: “With privileged access to some of those close to the case, this three-part documentary boxset offers fascinating insights into a trial that gripped the public’s attention on both sides of the Atlantic.”