Monster of Florence and Amanda Knox

[debbiediablo]

This is yet another murder mystery well documented in a book by the same namme written by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi. The same prosecutor who bungles this investigation and prosecution was also responsible for the Amanda Knox debacle. Like so many who read the internet for news, I thought she was likely guilty, but the facts indicated she and Sollecito were framed by a man do intent on his own agenda that irrefutable facts became meaningless.

[twinsrwe]

Well, apparently receiving a not guilty verdict is not enough for Amanda, now she is seeking compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

Knox's lawyers confirmed to reporters that she will be headed to a Lo Stivale court to seek compensation for the four years she spent in prison for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007.

"She will be seeking compensation for wrongful imprisonment," Carlo Dalla Vedova, her attorney, told the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, Sollecito's father, Francesco, told media outlets that deciding upon a settlement amount has been no easy feat for the two twentysomethings.

"You could hardly quantify a compensation figure, it has been such an awful business," he explained. "We were pilloried."

http://tinyurl.com/py3e4kj


Raffaele Sollecito says he does "not yet feel a complete sense of freedom" after his conviction was reversed. He may find that he will never be truly free; just like Lizzie was never completely free after her acquittal.

http://tinyurl.com/om6nfj9

[debbiediablo]

Considering what happened, I think Knox deserves a small fortune. The Italian justice is different, but when enacted fairly, not necessarily bad. However, Knox was interrogated without an attorney or an interpreter in Italian which she did not speak even close to fluently. The interrogation lasted for three days without sleep. The interrogation was not taped even though law requires it. Knox was then given a confession written in idiomatic Italian to sign even though she could not read it. Evidence in court included a knife that supposedly had Kercher's blood on it, and the defense was denied an independent DNA analysis. When, on appeal, the 'blood' was finally analyzed by an independent source it turned out to be rye bread! No blood whatsoever!! There was not one bit of either Knox's or Sollecito's DNA in Kercher's room, but there were huge bloody footprints and DNA evidence of rape left there by Rudy Guede who was convicted of the crime. He confessed and said that Knox and Sollecito were not involved, and maintained this stance until his sentence was reduced by half more than a year later, shortly after he implicated them. One of the eye witnesses, a derelict, who just happened to see Sollecito fleeing the scene was found to have 'just happened' to be a witness for the prosecution in several other crimes including one murder - all prosecuted by the same man. Each time this so-called witness just happened to be in the right place at the right time to identify the accused. At the same time he was prosecuting Knox and Sollecito, the prosecutor himself was convicted of abuse of powers but still allowed to practice while his own case went on appeal. Both Knox and Sollecito spent four years in prison from the time they were arrested until released after the first appeal. One of the police investigators said he knew immediately that Knox was guilty because of the way she 'swiveled her hips' when putting on covers over her shoes to provide an walk-through of the apartment to police. This was referred to as cognitive-behavioral evidence. Mignini's theory for the Monster of Florence murders (similar to Son of Sam) is that a Satanic cult was behind it, and an American and Italian journalist were arrested when they attempted to investigate the crime. Mignini went so far as to accuse to Italian as being part of the murders themselves. Mignini's theory for the Kercher murder was a Satanic orgy and sacrifice scheduled for Halloween but then rescheduled because too many people were in the house. Never mind the broken window where Guede gained entrance. Guede's defense was he had consensual sex with Kercher, went to the toilet and came to find her murdered in her bed. After which he stole her money and credit cards and ran away because he knew a black man would never stand a chance in the Italian courts. From what I've read, no one stands a chance in Italian courts...or at least not one where Giuliani Mignini is the prosecutor.

[Curryong]

So Amanda has been found not guilty and Meredith's family left wondering what exactly happened. Yes, the prosecutor was hugely biased and incompetent and, to say the least, the Italian legal system is not left looking marvellous.
The national feelings, reputations and viewpoints of three nations came into this case to a huge extent, through the reporting of the British, US and Italian Press. Each country's citizens would have been influenced by this.
I believe Amanda's family, especially her parents, have been left virtually broke by these long drawn-out proceedings, so I guess, if financial compensation is granted, then there will be some recompense for them. For Meredith's family, who also incurred quite a few expenses, nothing, I guess.
I also believe Amanda WAS involved in the murder, though not in satanic ritual.

[pld0128]

Curryong, tell us why you believe Amanda was involved.

[Franz]

If American people believe so much in judicial independence, why did Knox family ask the help to the American Government, please? It's a shame for the Knox, isn't it?

[mbhenty]

That is what you do not understand, Franz.

This is America.

Justice???? Justice???? We don't need no stinkin' justice. We have money. We can buy justice.

What kind of justice would you like? How much money do you have?

The person with the most money gets the most justice.

And we are beautiful.

And we are the smartest people in the universe.

Ane we have drones.

Makes one proud, doesn't it?

[debbiediablo]

Oh for sure, I am not a huge proponent of the American justice system either. I've told my kids almost since the cradle to never ever give up their Constitutional rights even if they've done nothing wrong. Never allow a search without a warrant; never answer questions without a lawyer; always vote; blah blah blah. The Courts in this country lean heavily against those of color, those without education and those without money.

http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-death-row ... 33714.html

[Curryong]

I put here straight away the caveat that, being Australian, my views of this case have been drawn from the British side of things and Meredith's family, who are now left with no resolution. Plus, I am very fond of Italy and have been since childhood. So all that feeds my bias!

Also, unlike the Ripper case and Lizzie I have NEVER read a book on this case, debbie is the one with all the details at her fingertips here.

I'm sorry to be blunt, my friends, but my feelings also come about because of the rampant and jingoistic hysteria about this case that was for years so easily whipped up by the U.S. Press and TV.

It often has seemed to me that when American citizens are arrested overseas they are immediately christened by the U.S. media as innocents in the grasp of a big bad legal system that is invariably portrayed as either evil or incompetent or lacking in the pristine fairness of American justice.

(Having said that I have to say that I would hate to be arrested for a crime in a European country where I knew the language imperfectly and had little knowledge of its legal system. Also I have no words for the corrupt prosecutor or the shortcomings in the DNA evidence in this case.)

My beliefs that Amanda was involved in some way are not based on anything solid, just feelings about her demeanour when first arrested (and yes I know she should have had an interpreter present) but still, uncaring, callous and self-absorbed would describe it well, I think.

There is the terrible relationship Meredith and she had, (the Kircher family had Meredith's letters backing their views of Amanda's character long before the murder) and the fact that Amanda and her boyfriend's mobiles were switched off for hours on the evening of the murders and the next day. I have always felt that after smoking a lot of pot she and her boyfriend could easily have gone back to the flat, Rafaelle's lack of remembrance of those hours is a worry as well.

As I said, nothing solid at all! Good job I wasn't on the jury, huh!

[twinsrwe]

Thank you, Curry. I have to agree with you; Amanda and Raffaele's actions appear to be of those who were involved in this murder to some degree.

Amanda Knox Speaks with Diane Sawyer: http://tinyurl.com/ng55nzk

Is it any wonder that Amanda is now receiving death threats following her acquittal?

http://tinyurl.com/qxhwt33

[twinsrwe]

I found the following two links interesting:

Case Summary written by Douglas Matthews

http://tinyurl.com/my7j8g5


How Much Does Italy Owe Amanda Knox?

http://tinyurl.com/m4r373c

[Curryong]

Thanks so much twins, trust you to find the appropriate interesting articles and interview! It is certainly a very interesting and intriguing case. If Amanda Knox is innocent then she should, as I stated in an earlier post, receive compensation. I find the clashes and misunderstandings due to cultural differences particularly tragic in this case.

[twinsrwe]

You're welcome, Curry. Thank you for the compliment of trusting me to find the appropriate interesting articles and interview. I agree, this is definitely an intriguing case. I have a feeling that Amanda and Raffaele are not as free as they think they are. Like Lizzie, I think they will be haunted by this case for the rest of their lives.

[debbiediablo]

One of the more surprising aspects of the case not mentioned in these excellent summations is that the prosecution created a video reenactment of Kercher's murder, in living color, with actors portraying their version of the crime. This was presented to jury despite objections by the defense. I cannot imagine this type of 'evidence' being admissible in any court anywhere.

[debbiediablo]

Also the DNA on the knife, the supposed murder weapon with Kercher's blood evidence on it, was determined by the independent analysis to be rye bread.