Washington - A fire in a Boston courthouse caused the postponement of the appeals in the case of the British au pair Ms Louise Woodward, Joe Carroll reports. She is challenging her manslaughter conviction for the death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen, while the prosecution is seeking to have her earlier conviction for second degree murder restored.
Minutes before the hearing was to begin in the Massachusetts Supreme Court, smoke seeped into the courtroom on the 13th floor. Firefighters ordered the evacuation of the building as power was cut off and lighting and lifts stopped working. The fire was caused by the explosion of an electrical transformer in the basement, injuring two workers.
Ms Woodward was in the courtroom for the appeal but the Eappen parents were not. Supporters of Ms Woodward paraded outside with placards proclaiming her innocence.