It's easier for Louise - baby's uncle

The Eappens in happier days

The uncle of the dead baby Matthew Eappen has told Louise Woodward to do something positive with her life.

Paul Spellman told BBC's Today programme: "Fortunately for her she can continue with her life and hopefully make something good of it.

"But for our family, if we move on with our lives, when we move on with our lives, we can only do that without a member of our family."

Matthew's parents, Sunil and Deborah, have so far declined to make any comment on the ruling by the Supreme Court in Massachusetts that allowed Woodward to go free.

They are launching court action to try to stop the former au pair selling her story.

When Mr Spellman was asked how the couple felt about the decsion that Woodward should not spend any more time in prison for Matthew's death, he replied: "All they really wanted to come out of the trial was the truth. We still haven't heard that."

Search for normality

He added that the Eappens' had recently celebrated the birth of their third child. But he stressed their lives would be permanently affected by the death of Matthew, their second child.

"They would like to find a sense of normalcy in their lives," he said.

"But normalcy has been redefined for them. It's not what most people would consider a normal life. They will always have to live with this."

Woodward advised 'not to obsess'

The head of Woodward's defence team Barry Scheck, has advised his client to try to get on with her life.

He said that the campaign to exonerate her from any part in the death of Matthew could help in this process.

But he added that his advice to her would be to: "Move on from this and not to obsess about it and let other campigners deal this issue."