Thought I would take a break from the ongoing Casey Anthony trial and discuss Amanda Knox. In case you are not familiar with her, she is an American college student who, along with her boyfriend at the time were convicted of murdering Amanda's British roommate, Meredith Kercher. There was a love triangle that was involved in this and sex games and everyone is good looking and young so it all has received much more attention than it probably would have otherwise. Amanda is also in trouble for a slander charge because she says Italian police hit her in the head. That trial starts in November. Her parents also are in trouble for the same thing, accusing police of mistreating their daughter. A hearing in the case is set for July 4th. Right now, Amanda is appealing her sentence so it is basically another trial.
At this point, I don't know what to think. I have to say at the time of the trial I thought Amanda was guilty. Yes, there are lots of holes in the evidence, but there are holes in Casey Anthony's case too. I did not see a really credible other story. Amanda says she was at home and said the owner of the bar where she worked killed Meredith. He didn't. He had a solid alibi for the entire night. At one point, Amanda confessed, but then says she was under pressure so don't treat it like a confession.
Points in Amanda's favor include the fact that a man named Rudy Guede had sex with Meredith that night, but Rudy says another man killed her while he was in the bathroom. Guede was sentenced to 16 years in jail, but yesterday would not rule out that Amanda was the killer. Also, forensic evidence has not ruled out Amanda as the killer. I still think she is guilty. This guy Rudy has already been convicted. He could have said he did it and Amanda was innocent. He did not.
Blaming the bar owner she worked for put me on the side of guilty. She just didn't need to do that & no matter the pressure from police, not-guilty people don't typically blame someone else who is innocent.
ReplyDeleteThe kid on the right looks like he's dressed for Hogwarts.
ReplyDeleteI have doubts on this case. Just watched an interesting special on Discovery ID about this case. Granted, the special was slanted in Knox's favor, but the so-called DNA evidence seems quite flimsy. Additionally, Rudy Guede has never admitted to the murder. Why would he change his story now? Convicted or not, he would be just like any other person in prison, proclaiming innocence while putting the blame on someone else.
ReplyDeleteThe slander charges I find to be hilarious in a sad sort of way. Italian "justice" seems a bit different to me.
I *haven't* been following this case, but after reading the latest Rolling Stone -- which contains a CRAZY and fascinating article about the Knox trial -- I just don't see how or why she could have done it.
ReplyDeleteI know it's just one piece of journalism from an ever-biased source, but I still feel as if she's not culpable. The bumbling Italian police REALLY effed up the murder investigation from the get-go. They needed someone to blame for a mystery they couldn't solve -- the pretty, naive American student said too many things that implicated her, and now she's facing the remainer of a 26-year sentence.
It's insane. And, again, I just don't think she did it.
I also used to think she was really guilty, but watched an interesting doc recently (maybe the same one as MacVixen?) about the Italian officials and, in particular, the primary prosecutor in the case, who is corrupt as all HELL and known for extracting false confessions. There have been books written about the guy. I'm not so sure anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe only journalist who was present for everyday of the trial is Barbie Latza Nadeau, who writes on the Daily Beast. She wrote a book called Angel Face which is a quick and fascinating read. Nadeau believes that Knox is guilty, and so do I after reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThe american press is very much biased against the Italian courts and making them look stupid. But, I am a criminal defense lawyer and I know the problems w/the american court system, and they are legion. Its not all wrapped up nice and pretty like CSI folks.
Knox got up very early the morning after the murder, before the police arrived (they were called by a neighbor) and went to the local hardware store to buy cleaning supplies. When the police arrived, she and her boyfriend/co-defendant were holding a mop and bucket and they had just mopped their kitchen and I believe bathroom floors. Because there had been blood on them. That is with the roommate's body still in the bed she was murdered in.
Still believe our little angel face is not guilty?
@ida & rocketqueen
ReplyDeletejust keep in mind, all these docs, etc. are American made & press here pursued relentlessly by her parents to proclaim her innocent. I do think there's a lot of doubt & errors made on both sides.
American press has been attacking Italian criminal justice system over her case, but it's really no better or worse than our own & often times easier on defendants than U.S. system. I think American press would be going apeshit if tables were turned & our system being critiqued this way in prosecution of Italian student. Just food for thought...
I have no idea if she is guilty or innocent. I have seen several articles which slant both ways.
ReplyDeleteI do know that when they did the movie they cast wrong. Jessica Biel would have been a better choice.
Enty-
ReplyDeleteI thought Knox was guilty too, until I read more on the prosecutor in the case. Smarmy and crazy doesn't even begin to cover it. He's also been convicted of misconduct.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20003238-504083.html
I think Rudy Guede did it, although I do acknowledge that Amanda Knox acted oddly enough to cast suspicious on her herself.
ReplyDeleteannabella and blondegossip - very interesting info from you both, and definitely food for thought. What can I say? Now I"m back on the "probably guilty" side :)
ReplyDeleteShe did it. I have no doubt. I think we're uncovering more and more psychopaths all around us. And that apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
ReplyDeleteShe's guilty.
ReplyDeleteAll info about this case can be found here:
http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/index.php
@BigMama -- I can see Biel. I also see Jenna Bush -- who can probably emote better than Biel, anyhow.
ReplyDeleteThe somersaults (spelling?) at the police station really got to me.
ReplyDeleteNot the only reason I think she's guilty but who would do somersaults at the police station while being questioned about the murder of your room mate.
Tacky.
(I can't get that out of my head since the Julia story. Sorry.)
"The slander charges I find to be hilarious in a sad sort of way. Italian "justice" seems a bit different to me."
ReplyDeleteI don't. I think it's important that they do this if it was untrue because her claims of that they hit her were being given press by Americans who want to believe that Italian justice is third world or inferior.
It's pretty clear to me from the evidence and circumstances that Knox knows more than she's telling and most likely was involved along with Sollecito, her boyfriend.
I haven't read any American press on the situation , but I've read a few articles from here in Australia, and they pretty much convinced me that she's guilty. Yes there are ways the Italian police botched this investigaton, but there are COUNTLESS instances when American investigations (and I'm sure Australian, UK, and other countries) investigations have been botched by local police. (I'm thinking Jonbennet Ramsey for starters...) However, that doesn't discount the evidence that IS credible, and the profile and psyche of this woman who is not the sweet innocent and naive student that she would like to portray. Also from what I understand, there was quite a large amount of drug use not just at the time of the murder but in general in her life, and that's certainly not an excuse, more of an indicator that's often seen in this type of personality.
ReplyDeleteI'm not certain she actually did the stabbing but I think she's involved somehow. Like she knew or maybe helped. Just basing this on her supposed behavior the day after the murders, similar to my view of Casey Anthony.
ReplyDeleteAnnabelle9, you say you're a 'criminal defense lawyer' yet you are referencing a 200-page anecdotal book with a f*cking BIASED TITLE. The author doesn't even site her sources - what credibility does she have? That's a book you read on a commuter flight from LA to Vegas.
ReplyDeleteAre you shitting us?? Try again.
Forgot to include the full title:
ReplyDelete"Angel Face: The True Story of Student Killer Amanda Knox"
Sounds like the Enquirer wrote it. *eye roll*
An interesting site to examine is injusticeinperugia.org, which has a definite slant toward the defendants' innocence but bolsters it with credible arguments that carry a lot of weight.
ReplyDeleteim new..hello everyone :-)
ReplyDeletei have to agree with the above comments, maybe she didn't wield the knife but she certainly knows who did and is not talking...along with all the lies and misleading information, i don't think you can blame the justice system for that..her behaviour is clearly off key and screams guilt in some form.
But the only DNA found in Meredith's room belonged to Rudy. They did not find any DNA belonging to Amanda or her boyfriend. I agree she acted strange but the lack of DNA evidence leads me to believe she is probably innocent.
ReplyDelete