Woodward parents walk free

The parents of former nanny Louise Woodward walked free from Chester Crown Court today after a jury was told to find them not guilty of defrauding their daughter's appeal fund.

The parents of former nanny Louise Woodward walked free from Chester Crown Court today after a jury was told to find them not guilty of defrauding their daughter's appeal fund.

Sue and Gary Woodward were on trial after alegations that they had defrauded over £9,000 from their daughter's fighting fund by forging an invoice for accomodation expenses while they were in the US suporting her legal struggle.

Louise was the centre of a national campaign after she was found guilty of the second degree murder of Matthew Eapen, a baby who died in her care.

A public campaign raised thousands of pounds to help the young girl fight her appeal but her Cheshire parents were later accused of having helped themselves to some of the money.

Judge John Rogers QC said the Crown had failed to prove that certain sums of money within the Louise Woodward and Family Trust Fund were not donated solely for the use of her parents.