things people should remember when defending amanda knox

I agree with you that America should stop bashing Italy.

That nothwithstanding, I don’t believe the evidence supports either a conviction against her or her boyfriend.

I also don’t believe Amanda was convicted because of anti-Americanism. Rather I believe that she and her boyfriend were convicted because the police and prosecution pushed a theory about what might have happened and the court allowed them to introduce circumstantial evidence which led the Italian jury members to believe the pair “might” have been involved (this from the jurors own words to the news media). I also believe the jury was swayed to convict based partly on overwhelming media coverage which portrayed Amanda as a sexually promiscuous she-devil.

In short, I believe Amanda AND HER BOYFRIEND were convicted because they were denied a fair trial. Hopefully, the second go around will have a jury who judges the actual evidence and not what the people of Italy ‘think’ happened.

When Americans go to a foreign country, they had better remember to obey that country’s laws. Murder, or course, is against the law in every civilized country. However, each country has its own judicial system and no country has the right to interfere. Certainly, there is an expectation that the visitor’s consulate will be contacted in the host country by the visitor’s family, representatives, or State Department to insure that the visitor received a fair trial. But where do we Americans get off on trying to impose our judicial system upon another country? American arrogance added to its persistent ignorance of other cultures is a deeply disturbing. Americans have the poorest test scores of any of the industrialized nations. We know very little of the history of other cultures. Most of us do not even know our own history or what is in our Constitution. As someone who lived and worked in Italy for a number of years, I found Italians to be welcoming and kind to all, regardless of their nationality. To say Italy is Anti-American is totally unfounded. To say that the Italian judicial system is flawed is ludicrous. Had Amanda Knox been convicted of murder in the United States, she would no doubt now be housed on death row — and the evidence very well might have been circumstantial! Whoever believes that the Italian judiciary and the Italian people suspected Amanda Knox of murdering Meredith Kercher because she is American, show only their lack of reasoned thinking. From the beginning Ms. Knox showed no sorrow for the terrible murder of Ms. Kercher. She behaved in a bizarre manner again and again. Her severe mood swings before, during and after the murder are well documented. What is really heartbreaking in this story is not what is happening to Amanda Knox and her family, but what happened to Meredith Kercher and her family. The Kercher tragedy seems to have been buried with their beloved Meredith as the Knox clan continues to descend upon Perugia, shopping, seeking publicity, accusing everyone who is trying to find the truth to this case and never refering to Meredith’s imprisonment, trial and torment by her murderers.

your defensivness is contributing to the perception of anti-Americanism. not your best piece Am Girl. America’s justice system is not perfect. neither is Italy’s.

Not only is Knox not the only non-Italian among the three convicted, she is the only woman and the only one the berserk self-aggrandizing prosecutor called a devil (“Luciferina,” that doesn’t raise your PUMA feminist hackles, Sara?)and the one who supposedly plunged the knife into Kercher. Her only previous run-in with the law was violating a Seattle noise ordinance by playing music too loud.

Ted Bundy murdered what, 30, 50?, really no one knows for sure how many women, everyone to whom he was a complete stranger, forget about a roommate. And to those who knew him he put on a facade of normalcy. So what? I thought Knox acting like a space cadet was what aroused police suspicions; She didn’t act like an innocent suspect in a TV melodrama.

It would be utterly pathetic if Hillary Clinton as S.O.S. did not make at least discreet inquiries at the request of Maria Cantwell who is Knox’s Senator.

Senator Cantwell has requested an inquiry, I believe, so the State Department may become involved.
Knowing very little about the particulars of the case, I would hope that justice prevails.
It’s difficult to think that prejudices would influence such an important legal matter.

AGiI,

I am still unable to come to a firm conclusion either way about Knox’s guilt or lack of guilt in this case. I’ve followed it since the beginning. But I thank you for bringing the story up for discussion because I do like to read everyone’s point of view.

This is a case for me that will always puzzle me, like the Jon Benet Ramsey case in my home state. It just makes me very sad about the nature of humans. First, as in the Ramsey case, that any other human could commit such an act at all against another person.

Next, it frustrates me as a person who does believe there is always a real truth out there and wishes I could know it. I want it to be like the cases on all the many crime scene investigation television series where we have a definite answer at the end of the hour.

Finally, I am saddened by Knox’s youth. Clearly her friends KNOW her as a different person from the one depicted by the Italian prosecutor. I don’t fault them for that. But as a long-time teacher of teenagers, I also know the propensity very young people have for trying on different personas when they get around different people. Couple that with drug use and their whole personality transforms–until they’re back again with their previous group of friends or until they decide to stick with their new friends.

This is the thing as a mother that always frightened me the most in regard to my own children. I wished I could be some super power and could watch over them during those years when they were so confused about who they really were, just to make sure they wouldn’t fall into a really horrible crowd or be so desperate for acceptance that they do things they shouldn’t and have to pay for it for the rest of their lives.

In any case, hatred and vindictiveness one way or the other, is always ugly. The response to this case should only be sadness that the crime happened at all.

I will say I have come to a definite conclusion about how I feel about Hillary’s possible involvement. At this point I don’t think she should get involved. If she does, I hope that in her usual manner she can clearly outline her reasons for doing so.

Astounding theory flowing from some of the comments here, if I can boil it down:

An American can’t be guilty of a crime committed in a foreign country if tried by a foreign jury.

That’s quite a concept but, at a fundamental level, certainly appears to be the tenor of some of these posts.

Reminds me of other notorious murder trials of the past, people defending or damning the convicted or the accused based on their “absolute” knowledge of what “obviously” happened or didn’t happen in some location where they were not present and at a trial where they were also not present. While there are literally thousands of murder prosecutions underway throughout the world at any given moment, including our own significant share here in the good old USA. Where’s the beat-by-beat dissection of these trials to assure their “fairness” — the cloak under which much of the “poor Amanda” sentiment here seems to be hiding.

Having defended and prosecuted criminal cases for a good while in the past (including directing a prosecutor’s office trial staff), I can confidently say this: No one who did not sit on the jury itself in a trial is qualified to offer an opinion on the guilt or innocence of a defendant. [And, no, "I've followed this trial very closely" does not count.]

But, above and beyond that, how quickly we Americans are to judge not only other persons but entire nations and cultures. Italy was the center of the world long before the USA, as was Greece, Mesopotamia, on and on. We are one of the youngest cultures on the planet. Yet, we easily dismiss other cultures, including in this case their legal system (about which, honestly, we know next to nothing), with the unspoken sub-text that they’re — well, frankly my dear — just a bit backward, after all.

Hubris wrapped in arrogance.

I don’t know if this woman killed or assisted in the killing of the victim in this case. I was not in the courtroom, in the jury box, where I could observe the behavior, tone and manner of the participants as well as the literal text of the testimony.

But, I do know this. I expect the Italians know how to conduct a murder trial. Gosh, even the French can manage that (yes, a little tongue in cheek there, just for fun).

Erroneous report. You must outline the entire context of your “facts,” not just the portion that suits your position.

1. Two Italians sit in jail, true. Sollecito was accused of involvement by association with the American. Guede was convicted of the murder itself, yet his role became secondary during the Knox trial as if he were not fully responsible. His DNA found on the victim, in the victim, footprints, hand prints, and fingerprints all were found. Who locked the door and climbed out Mez’s window? Why wouldn’t Knox give up Guede (in her own defense!)if she knew he was the killer? This is not logical.

It’s shameful to me that the effort to convict Knox has overpowered the search for the truth in Meredith’s last night.

2. Correction: Knox said she had smoked hashish and could not remember some of the exact details regarding her activities and the timing of them that night, such as what time they ate dinner and if she had sent any emails. Why did a police “expert” destroy 3 computer hard drives that allegedly could have shown activity during the times in question? Expert???

3. Knox originally said she was at Sollecito’s home, which is the same response he gave. For 5 days (and 53 total hours of questioning for Knox) they repeated this fact. Police knew a black man was involved due to hair found on the victim. Lumumba’s name originated because police viewed a text from Knox to Lumumba saying “See you later, goodnight!” and mistranslated it to mean the confirmation of an appointment. Her “confession” points the finger at an innocent man that police just happened to suspect? This is not a coincidence. Will police pay for their part in defaming Lumumba? Or for defaming Knox? Not very likely.

4. Italy is entitled to its own processes in all areas of government, including judicial. Some Americans may speak poorly of the system out of anger, but we certainly have no authority on this matter. A few ignorant comments does not represent the entire nation’s psyche.

5. Witnesses that contradicted Knox and Sollecito are often called the “magic witnesses” because they suddenly appeared months or even a year after the crime occurred. How can they even be considered witnesses if they don’t recall witnessing anything until such a convenient time. The witness that places all three suspects together (the only person who alleges to have ever seen the “conspirators” all together)has been proven untrustworthy. Details of his account have been proven false, including when he saw them and what Knox was wearing. Research it.

6. Two other roommates (both Italian) were out of town during the event. Of course they could not be suspects.

7. The main issue of differing justice systems is the allowance of (potentially) bias-causing information into a trial. I will not debate this issue, but there are credible points for both sides. Amanda respects Italy and its system of law, as do many Americans.

8. Once Ted Bundy was identified, several witnesses recalled seeing convince a girl to help him carry items to his car. One woman even escaped from his grip and identified him as the man that tried to kill her. No individual has ever claimed that Knox tried to cause them physical (or mental) harm. Same for Sollecito.

Ironically, two witnesses (3 different accounts) have come forth to say that Rudy Guede broke into their home or business in the weeks before the murder, stole items including cell phones, a laptop, a 10-inch kitchen knife, and credit cards. One male witness said he was threatened with a knife. Pattern of behavior?? Coincidence?? Or the sign of a killer about to strike?

“Perugia Shock” is the most detailed site. It seems to support the defense position though.

“True Justice for Meredith” outlines the prosecution side of the story, but it goes too far with speculation and attacks on the suspects.

“The Telegraph” and “The Independent” covered the story in the UK.

I recommend using a variety of websites and sources to filter the information for yourself. There are discrepancies in nearly all the reports.

TIP: Read over media reports from Nov 2-21, 2007 (especially Nov 2-7). These reports are based on investigators leaks to the media, which is a normal practice in Italian investigations. Decipher through the reports to get the truth.

What was the investigators’ theory? What exact quotes and information did they leak to the media? Is this accurate with what we know now? Was the information skewed out-of-context? Sensationalized? Find out the sad truth for yourself.

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