CAMBRIDGE, Novemebr 5: Aus judge who sentenced a 19-year-old British au pair to life in prison for murdering a baby heard pleas on Tuesday to reverse results of a trial that sparked a trans-Atlantic uproar. As scores of protesters marched outside the court house here chanting calls for the release of Louise Woodward, Judge Hiller Zobel indicated he might be prepared to overturn or otherwise modify the murder conviction.

Zobel has 60 days to consider the 53-page defense motion calling on him to throw the case out, order a new trial or downgrade the conviction against Woodward from murder to manslaughter, which would make her eligible for parole immediately.

Near the conclusion of verbal arguments on Tuesday from both prosecution and defense attorneys, Zobel floated the idea of reducing the seriousness of the charge that Woodward faced.

In an another unusual turn to the procedings, Zobel also announced that his ruling on the motions would be made public with an announcement on the Internet. He did not indicate when that might be forthcoming.

Woodward, who came to the United States in June 1996 to spend a year working as an au pair before attending college, was convicted on Thursday of killing Matthew Eappen, an eight-month-old infant in her care.

Her trial, conducted under an intense media spotlight.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.