Just heard the devastating news that American college student Amanda Knox was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 years. Her ex boyfriend was also found guilty and sentenced to 25 years. This really makes you appreciate the American justice system (no matter how flawed)- or at least it should.
The prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini, in this case is batshit crazy, the evidence was minute, and the crime scene was almost completely bungled. This is a tragedy. I’ve been (loosely) following this case and just thought that surely the truth would prevail no matter the ridiculous antics the Italian courts have allowed- but OMG I was oh so wrong. 48 Hours has done a good job covering the case and will update again this Saturday. Here’s another link to get you up to speed: Friends of Amanda.
Please send your thoughts and prayers to Amanda, her family and friends.
Foxy Knoxy. La bella figure.
Citizenkim's Weblog 
John Davenport
December 5, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I completely agree with you. What a farce of a trial. My heart goes out to her.
Even if you think all of the evidence is legit (which it is obviously not), nothing puts her at the scene.
Biggest problem with the evidence is that there isn’t more of it.
Their DNA would be everywhere if they were there.
Jim Rocca
March 5, 2010 at 3:17 pm
John Davenport is right. If Amanda and Raffaele had been at the crime scene, they would have left behind DNA. Also, they would have left behind fingerprints, blood, skin fragments, hair, and fibers. Rudy Guede left all of these behind. And on his body were two defensive wounds made by Meredith in her struggle to survive. Neither Amanda nor Raffaele had defensive wounds.
I believe we can help Amanda and Raffaele if we tell our congressman/woman how a good American woman will be sitting in a maximum-security Italian prison until 2035. unless they do something. They are in Washington to serve us (and Amanda). Demand that help her: (202) 224-3121. .
Harry Rag
May 10, 2010 at 10:56 am
The evidence against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito is overwhelming.
Amanda Knox’s DNA was found on:
1. On the double DNA knife and a number of independent forensic experts – Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni, Dr. Renato Biondo and Professor Francesca Torricelli – categorically stated that Meredith’s DNA was on the blade.
2. Mixed with Meredith’s blood on the ledge of the basin.
3. Mixed with Meredith’s blood on the bidet.
4. Mixed with Meredith blood on a box of Q Tip cotton swabs.
5. Mixed with Meredith’s blood in the hallway.
6. Mixed with Meredith’s blood on the floor of Filomena’s room, where the break-in was staged.
7. On Meredith’s bra according to Dr. Stefanoni AND Raffaele Sollecito’s forensic expert, Professor Vinci.
Amanda Knox’s footprints were found set in Meredith’s blood in two places in the hallway of the new wing of the cottage. One print was exiting her own room, and one print was outside Meredith’s room, facing into the room. These bloody footprints were only revealed under luminol.
A woman’s bloody shoeprint, which matched Amanda Knox’s foot size, was found on a pillow under Meredith’s body. The bloody shoeprint was incompatible with Meredith’s shoe size.
Two independent imprint experts categorically excluded the possibility that the bloody footprint on the blue bathmat could belong to Rudy Guede. Lorenzo Rinaldi stated:
“You can see clearly that this bloody footprint on the rug does not belong to Mr. Guede, but you can see that it is compatible with Sollecito.”
The other imprint expert print expert testified that the bloody footprint on the blue bathmat matched the precise characteristics of Sollecito’s foot.
An abundant amount of Raffaele Sollecito’s DNA was found on Meredith’s bra clasp. Sollecito must have applied considerable pressure to the clasp in order to have left so much DNA. The hooks on the clasp were damaged which confirms that Sollecito had gripped them tightly.
According to Judge Massei and Judge Cristiani, Rudy Guede’s visible bloody footprints lead straight out of Meredith’s room and out of the house. He didn’t lock Meredith’s door, remove his trainers, go into Filomena’s room or the bathroom that Meredith and Knox shared.
He didn’t scale the vertical wall outside Filomena’s room or gain access through the window. The break-in was clearly staged. This indicates that somebody who lived at the cottage was trying to deflect attention away from themselves and give the impression that a stranger had broken in and killed Meredith.
Guede had no reason to stage the break-in and there was no physical evidence that he went into Filomena’s room or the bathroom. The scientific police found a mixture of Knox’s DNA and Meredith’s blood on the floor in Filomena’s room. They also found irrefutable proof that Knox and Sollecito had tracked Meredith’s blood into the bathroom.
The murder dynamic implicates Knox and Sollecito.
Barbie Nadeau wrote the following:
“Countless forensic experts, including those who performed the autopsies on Kercher’s body, have testified that more than one person killed her based on the size and location of her injuries and the fact that she didn’t fight back—no hair or skin was found under her fingernails.”
Judge Paolo Micheli claimed that Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito knew precise details about Meredith’s murder that they could have only known if they were present when she was killed.
Amanda Knox voluntarily admitted that she involved in Meredith’s murder in her handwritten note to the police on 6 November 2007. She stated on at least four separate occasions that she was at the cottage when Meredith was killed. She also claimed that Sollecito was at the cottage.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito both gave multiple conflicting alibis and lied repeatedly. Their lies were exposed by telephone and computer records, and by CCTV footage. Neither Knox nor Sollecito have credible alibis for the night of the murder despite three attempt each. At the trial, Sollecito refused to corroborate Knox’s alibi that she was at his apartment.
Legal expert Stefano Maffei stated the following:
“There were 19 judges who looked at the evidence over the course of two years, faced with decisions on pre-trial detention, review of such detention, committal to trial, judgment on criminal responsibility. They all agreed, at all times, that the evidence was overwhelming.”
citizenkim
May 25, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Harry- I WANT some of whatever you’re smoking. You are listing some ridiculous statements that were floated at first by the prosecution. Touch DNA does not = guilty of the crime. Amanda lived in that house so of course her DNA is all over the place.
Harry Rag
August 5, 2010 at 7:55 am
Judge Massei’s 427- page report will be published in English on Monday 9 August. It will be available for download from PMF and TJMK.