Louise Woodward's lawyers argued that her murder conviction should be overturned, but the judge questioned their contention that the outcome of the trial would have changed if a series of medical photographs had not been introduced late.
Prosecutors reminded the judge that the British au pair got a fair trial and he shouldn't substitute his judgment for the jury's.The 19-year-old woman's defense team conceded to state Judge Hiller B. Zobel Tuesday that its strategic decision to let the jury consider only first- or second-degree murder in the death of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen "can be seen as a mistake."
Zobel could rule as early as Monday whether to keep Woodward in prison, reduce the verdict to manslaughter, overturn the verdict and set her free, or order a new trial. Because the case has grown into an international cause celebre, he plans to issue his decision on the Internet through media and legal Web sites.
The baby's mother, Deborah Eappen, said in an interview that Woodward's outwardly respectable demeanor made it difficult to believe she could be a killer.