Woodward cautious on `old injury evidence'

LOUISE WOODWARD reacted with "caution" yesterday to claims of new evidence that could clear her name. The former au pair's legal team appeared wary of information from her ex-attorney, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, which would support defence claims that Matthew Eappen, the baby in her care, died of an old injury.

Ms Woodward, 21, who spent 279 days in a US jail awaiting trial for second- degree murder, later reduced to manslaughter, is studying law. Her solicitor Paul Barrow said: " The watchword, as always, is caution."

Ms Whitfield Sharp claims two witnesses saw the eight-month-old boy fall from a toy shop trolley while out with his father before his death in 1997. The district attorney, who prosecuted the case, said that was investigated and "is not credible".