Amanda Knox Appeal: Despite Victory Of DNA Review Needless Doubt Remains

December 20, 2010- Amanda Knox won a victory in her battle to have DNA evidence reviewed- the court granted that request, and then some. Still, of course, the prosecution put on a poker face and claimed it was nothing special and the verdict of guilty would still stand. Then, as if to upset the balance, anti-Knox factions countered that the Guede appeals documents would be available and even Guede himself might testify at the Knox/ Sollecito appeal trial. Is this particularly damaging to the Knox defense? More than a few think this is cause for worry about Amanda's chances- yet they are mistaken.  I should not be surprised at the continuation of lies and misinformation spread about as in the days when this case first caught public attention. I do have to point out that the 'smoke and mirror' days are over, yet some people are not getting the drift that times have changed. That Italy is not corrupt. That though a mistake has been made- justice is not beyond reach. Enter a man of principle- Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann- and justice is at hand.

It should be clear to all that this judge wants the truth, and was clearly not happy with this case as it stood. Thus he wants the DNA matter clarified, as it is clear from his words that at this point reasonable doubt exists. In referring to his decision to have the DNA re-examined he states: "conviction could only be secured against an accused if it was beyond all reasonable doubt.." And then he ordered that the suspect DNA would be re-examined by two DNA experts from Rome. He did this to "take away any reasonable doubt that may exist". In other words this judge believes at this point in time that reasonable doubt does exist. Therefore he is trying to get to the bottom of things that have for too long been allowed to remain in question. It is also clear that this judge believes that the original trial court was in error for not allowing the DNA to be subject to independent testing and he stated his opinion on this at the hearing of December 18th, Also there is to be a re-examination of the 'park bum' who got his facts wrong and stated the disco buses were running when in fact they were not running that night.

Of course this is a victory for Amanda but there is always that anti-Amanda faction who contends that now Amanda has to worry about Rudy Guede's appeal court papers that were allowed into her appeals trial. And that Rudy Guede may testify. To make short work of this one let me just say- How do you think that will hold up with the jury? He will of course say Amanda was there with Raffaele but when asked about his own part he will then say his usual lame story about sitting on the bowl listening to music as Meredith was being killed- a story no one has bought yet- and when he adds this lie to his lie about Amanda it will be clear to all that his words are worthless.

Yet in the meantime- all those pro and anti-Amanda sites are going full swirl. He said, she said, they did, they did not, and who knew? Going over all the evidence back and forth in order to make up their own minds about this case. After this is over 6 months from now there are going to be a lot of people going through 'Amanda Withdrawal' and will have to get their entertainment some place else.

To all those who stuck with Amanda & Raffaele through all of this and supported them in one way or another- each of you are a hero- Please continue to speak out until they are free.

To all those who thought or just wanted them guilty. To all those who just hated for the sake of hating and tried to make sure an innocent woman stayed in prison with a ruined life. May life kiss you back.

                                        
Victims: Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito and their families.
Heroes: Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann, Massimo Zanetti and the appeals jury.
Hall of Shame: Mignini and others too numerous to mention (you know who you are).
Truth Realized: "There are none so blind as those who 'will' not see".

Amanda Knox Appeal: Knox Gains Victory In Court Granting DNA Review

December 18, 2010  Perugia, Italy. Amanda Knox is one step closer to freedom as the appeals court granted a review of the crucial DNA evidence. The judges retired to deliberate if they would allow a review of the disputed DNA used to convict Knox last year. The prosecution and Kercher lawyer  Maresca argued against a review, stating the court had everything it needed- The judge however did not agree and stated the court would allow a review of the DNA evidence including the knife and bra clasp.

This is a great victory for the defense and for Amanda Knox. Without a review of the DNA evidence, Amanda's chances of winning her appeal was not good. With the judge's decision to allow a review of the DNA things are looking rather sunny at this moment for Amanda Knox. Perhaps this is the best Christmas present she could have received. She has everything to gain by this review- but no doubt the prosecution is rather gloomy at the news- too bad for them. Things Change. Merry Christmas Amanda.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Judges Will Lead This Case To Justice

Bad news for the prosecution. Bad news for lawsuit lawyers. Bad news for Barbie and Nicky and for every media source that took an anti-Amanda stance for the last 3 years. Bad news for anti-Amanda sites.

But good news for Amanda Knox. Good news for her family and supporters. And good news for those who were looking for true justice in this strange case.

Chris Mellas is not a liar. Reading what he said in the news about a judge stating there was only one certain fact in this case is supported by several Italian news sources. I am not referring to any weeping in the court- I have no info on that. What I am referring to is that the judges are obviously not happy with this case. It is probably well known by now that Mr Mellas had said - He was told that the judge said "...the only thing we know for certain is the fact that Meredith was murdered..." If that is not an exact quote it's pretty damn close. Now the anti-Amanda sites were obviously displeased with that and their comments ranged from Mr Mellas is a liar to- oh well the judge only meant that they would keep an open mind. Really? No dice on that.

In support of Mr Mellas- I quote from the Italian news source Libero-news. it: The exact Italian quote of Judge Massimo Zenetti as published from Libero "...di partire dall'unico fatto certo, ovvero l'omicidio stesso." Now this pertained to where the court would start from in the proceedings.  It has been speculated that the court may not choose to re-examine most of the evidence yet this quote in Italian makes it pretty clear that the the judges are not happy with the supposed facts of this case and state the only fact that is certain is the murder itself.
The English tranlation of the above Italian quote is "...to start from the only certain fact and that is the murder itself."

Now this does not mean they will not pay attention to the Massei report but it does strongly suggest that as far as the judges are concerned they are not taking any of the supposed facts at face value. I would therefore assume that they intend to almost pick this case up from scratch or at least hear major portions of it. The key phase here is the quote ...the only certain fact..."  Of course this is nothing but good news for the defense and Amanda Knox. She has nothing to fear from a re-examination of this case.

I am not trying to say 'case closed'- that reminds me too much of what the Italian police said on the arrest of Amanda Knox. What I am saying is Judges Claudio Pratillo Hellmann and Massimo Zanetti will no doubt do their best to find the truth in what has become one of the strangest criminal cases in modern history. May justice prevail for Meredith and Amanda- and that, is true justice.

Amanda Knox Pours Her Heart Out At Appeals Hearing

December 11, 2010- Amanda Knox made a heart rending statement at the start of today's hearing in Perugia. Knox who does not like contention rarely defended herself in the past, no doubt believing that justice was enough. But as she stated today, justice had clearly failed her. So today she poured her heart out to the court in a statement that lasted about 18 minutes. Speaking in Italian, she addressed a variety of issues- from her wrongful conviction to her sorrow for the members of Meredith's family. At times she was clearly overcome with emotion and wept, but forced herself to go on. One rather tasteless incident during Amanda's statement occurred when the Kercher lawyer left the courtroom, stating that he wasn't interested in what she had to say. No doubt a strategic move to try and upstage Knox and put a fly in the soup. It didn't matter. Anyone with any heart at all could see that this young woman was speaking from her gut; laying her soul bare.

This is a new time. Mignini's magic show of illusion is not on the agenda. That was then- this is now. And that goes for anyone who stands to profit from Amanda losing her appeal. All the lawsuits and the lawyer who leads them. To all the journalists who milked this case to sell the news at the expense of a young woman's life. To the corrupt prosecutor who could not contain his own fantasies at the expense of justice. To all those disillusioned souls who would rather believe a lie than the truth. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

As I said in the past I will place my trust in the appeals court to do the right thing based on the evidence. Hopefully the appeals court will examine all the evidence that is called into question. How could this court condemn Amanda with no evidence, with no motive, with flawed forensics. A woman who has never had a history of violence. The vast majority of the people who are aware of this case know that Amanda is innocent. And the world will be watching.

Amanda Knox told the truth this morning- she gave it from her heart. Among all the lies and misconceptions in this case- she told the truth- she was the light. But if that is not enough with all the evidence that proves her innocent of this crime, then I have only this quote from the Bible to offer:
         "And the light shined in the darkness, yet the darkness comprehended it not"

Amanda Knox December 11: Franceso Maresca Tries To Upstage Knox At Hearing

 December 11, 2010- As Amanda Knox started to make her statement to the court, Kercher lawyer Franceso Maresca walked out of the courtroom. According to 'Barbie of the Beast' he "stormed out", yet most other sources say he simply walked out- who to believe huh? When asked after the hearing why he had left the courtroom while Knox was addressing the court he said something along the lines of he didn't want to listen to what she had to say and that her statement was just to impress the court. Really? My opinion is that he was simply trying to upstage her by showing her disrespect, while also trying to send a subtle message to the judge and jury.

Now to those who are not in the know on who Mr Maresca is- he is not part of the prosecution team as such, but rather a lawyer who has more lawsuits pending against Amanda Knox than anyone on the planet. And these are all civil money lawsuits. But he can only win these lawsuits as long as Amanda stays convicted. The Kercher lawsuit is already over but money can not be collected from that if Amanda goes free on appeal. And the lawsuits of seven Perugia police officers  (of which Maresca represents) against Knox for slander will be much weaker if Amanda's conviction is overturned. Seems to me this guy stands to lose more than anyone if Amanda Knox goes free. You might say he has a stake in seeing Amanda kept in prison. So, what do you think- he doesn't want to see his lawsuits go down the drain? Or is he just a drama queen?

Amanda Knox Appeal Trial: Why Amanda Knox Will Win

I am sure more than a few people will think the title to this post is, well, overly optimistic, but to those people I would say- To think otherwise is being overly pessimistic. Besides, there are many different ways this appeal can go and yet it can still be considered a win for Amanda. I am however thinking that she will win the whole thing. Why? Because of a combination of facts, common sense, and some faith in the appeals court to do the right thing based on the evidence.

It is the job of the appeals court to judge the verdict of the original trial court. The verdict, and how that verdict was reached, and an important part of that is the judge's 'Motivation Report' on how the judge and jury came to their conclusions. Now I will say outright that anyone who thinks that the Massei Motivation report validly supports their guilty verdict has either not read the report, or they are simply a few bricks short of a full load- or an extreme case of denial is in motion. It is not the purpose of this post however to go over the motivation report and how it's cheese slipped off the cracker- that is the job of the appeals court. We are going to stick to reality here, and show how and why the original court came to the wrong conclusions.

Even when it happened, and that guilty verdict came down in Decemeber 2009, few people really understood what had happened. Most people who didn't know about 'low copy number DNA or luminol revealed footprints, simply read the newspapers to try and get a grasp on this case- and yes, the jurors sitting in on the case were allowed to read the news also. Problem was, most of the journalist didn't know what the hell those things were either so most of the news was filled with 'the prosecutor says' and 'the defense says' and how Amanda looked in court, how she smiled, inaccurate quotes from her diary, and that damn cartwheel. And the prosecutor Mignini had to have been amused by all of it. After all- most of the confusion was his doing.

Even before the trial started Mignini was hard at work leaking false information to the press- Phony bleach receipts, misquotes from Amanda's diary, overblown sexual references, giving Amanda's personal papers to the press for publication, phony witnesses, and on and on. All for the sole purpose of trying to make her look as bad as possible before the trial even got started. And it worked like a charm.

After the trial started the smoke and mirrors act continued to the point where it can be stated as fact that the prosecution mislead the court in much of it's presentation of the 'evidence'. In the end, what those jurors believed were signs of guilt, had very little to do with reality. As Mignini made his case on one half truth after another, with a lot of speculation to the point of absurdity at times, the jury seemed to be buying it. What they did not seem to care for was the arguments of the defense- with some of the jurors catnapping while the defense stated their side of things. The following are some of the things presented by the prosecution with the intent to mislead:

The bloody footprint on the bathroom mat was not Raffaele's as an examination of the print on the mat compared with prints of the feet of Raffaele and Rudy Guede show- the print appears much more like Guede's than Raffaele. The print was not a good piece of evidence to begin with as there was no DNA for a match and since it was just a partial print on a cloth surface it really was not what you would call damning evidence. Yet that did not stop Mignini from giving the court the impression it was Raffaele's, with no proof to back it up.

Next you have the so-called mixed DNA of Meredith and Amanda. Now I do believe that really sounded like incriminating evidence to the court but the reality is that there is absolutely nothing unusual about it. Anyone, and I mean anyone who shares a living space with another person is going to mix their DNA with the other person. Now a lot of this mixed DNA came from the bathroom but Meredith and Amanda shared that bathroom- both their DNA was all over the place in there and some of course would become mixed. Forensic experts know this is nothing- its a common occurrence when two people co-inhabit the same space. Yet to listen to Mignini in court on this issue (as with others) you would think he just discovered how to split the atom, when in fact he was only hoodwinking the jury.

And he continued along those lines to produce another illusion for the court- the footprints in the corridor of the flat. revealed with luminol (a substance that turns bright blue in the dark when in contact with iron- usually used to detect traces of blood). Now to listen to Mignini on this one you would get the impression that someone had been tracking Meredith's blood all over the place with their feet, and all the time subtly insinuating that it was Amanda. Now first off- in reality- no one tested the footprints for blood or if they did- it wasn't blood, and to top it off their was no DNA of Amanda found in the footprints. Of course Mignini didn't tell them that.

Then you have Mignini selling them the story about the murder weapon which was not the murder weapon. It was a large kitchen knife taken from Raffaele's home where the knife was in with the rest of the knives and silverware. It has been dubbed the "double DNA knife" (drama huh?). It was found to have Amanda's DNA on the handle and an extremely small amount of Meredith's DNA on the blade. Now that indeed sounds incriminating except that- as was stating in court- the knife was too big to match the wounds on Meredith. Also the knife was tested for blood- and none was found, but, a tiny amount of Meredith's DNA was found on the blade (so they say) but this was not found under normal testing. When tested for DNA the machine registered "Too Low" so the machine was altered and altered until finally it came up with something the prosecution states is Meredith's DNA. However, as most forensic experts will tell you- the amount of DNA of Meredith's found was so tiny an amount that is was probably the result of contamination- due to the lab not being qualified to do this kind of testing, contamination is almost a given- yet they did it anyway. Now Amanda's DNA on the handle is no mystery at all as she was living at Raffaele's house on and off and had touched all the silverware and knifes there when cooking and doing the dishes. Yet the court did not seem to wonder about the fact there was no blood found on the knife that was suppose to have been use to stab Meredith. Yet a knife that was not compatible with the wounds inflicted- go figure.

It is not the purpose of this post to go over every piece of evidence, but hopefully the appeals court will. My purpose was to show that a lot of what was believed true, is in fact not true, and even today there are more than a few people who are not aware that a lot of the myths of this case have been proven false. After the appeals court reviews the evidence I think Amanda is going to win the whole thing- finally. There won't be a magic act this time- just the truth backed up with facts, or in the case of Mignini's presentation and the motivation report- the lack of facts.

With an evaluation of the original trial court and the 'evidence' used to convict, the court of appeals is not going to be falling for any Mignini type tactics "Fool me once- shame on you. Fool me twice-shame on me". Think about it, this is not the kind of case that can hold up under close examination- it's going to fall and fall hard. And the world will be watching.

 I have not of course mentioned anything about the fact there was no motive, no history of violence for Amanda, the weak testimony of the prosecution's witnesses, the wrong time of death, etc... because most of those things are generally undisputed. I tried to present the common myths of the case. Not that this post will stop a certain group who hate Amanda from believing what they want. I still expect to see some of these people on the comment board yelling "Oh yeah, what about the fact that Amanda tracked Meredith's blood all over the house?" Some lies never die.

The Amanda Knox Appeal: She's Good To Go

There has not been much news about Amanda Knox in the last week or so, and considering the start of her appeal begins very soon- it's kind of eerie; It's like the calm before the storm, and I think a storm is coming. No matter what your angle is on this case, take my word for it- it's going to get wild. And that does not mean anything bad like Amanda losing the appeal. What I mean is- regardless of the outcome there is going to be a huge news blitz. People are either going to be wild with joy or they will be wild with anger. If her trial was big- her appeal is bigger.

There are a great many more people aware of this case now than last year. The world is watching, and the vast majority are hoping for Amanda to go free. It is no longer stylish to go on Amanda bashing. Amanda has emerged from all the bad press and foxy knoxy foolishness, an intelligent and brave young woman whose innocence is clear to any rational thinking person.

This case is no longer a mystery that hinges on the fantasies of a corrupt prosecutor. This case has been examined by some of the best legal minds in the world- including experts in criminal investigation and forensics. As if in one voice they say- this is a wrongful conviction and needs to be remedied. Yet will it be?

Amanda has a very strong case for appeal yet there are some people who doubt the court in Perugia will do the right thing. I have heard a lot of this type of thing and some of it coming from Italians. They say things like: The Americans have angered the Italian judicial system and they will therefore not let Amanda go. Really? I personally find that hard to believe. Wouldn't that be saying the same thing as justice will be denied due to personal reasons? Is that not saying that justice hinges not on guilt or innocence but rather hinges on if the Americans watch what they say and don't upset Italians? Really? With the world watching? I would personally have to see that to believe it. Cases like this do not get swept under the rug. The world will assess how the appeal goes and on what grounds the appeals court reaches it's decision. Personally I am counting on Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann to uphold justice and defend the principle. I am hopeful that he will do the right thing. I am personally very optimistic about this appeal for the simple reason that Amanda Knox is clearly innocent and deserves for her wrongful conviction to be corrected. This is not a replay of her original trial which was based on fantasy.

And yes, that world famous magician Mignini will be assisting the prosecution. Should anyone be worried about that? Does anyone think Mignini's smoke and mirrors act with a good dose of misinformation and sheer speculation is going to win the day for injustice again? I don't think so.  I think even God is looking down on Mignini and saying "Hey, saw you in church Sunday-I can't believe you think you're on my team". Just my opinion of course. Besides- the Lord is probably busy making a long list of the crimes inflicted against Amanda Knox.

This appeals will be based on the truth, and the majority of people know what the truth is regarding Amanda. Why should she have to wait another year or two in prison for the case to go to the Italian Supreme Court. Justice can be at hand right now and set an innocent woman free. She has a very, very strong case to have her wrongful conviction overturned. How big and what kind of storm is coming is anyone's guess. If it is a quick shower with the sun coming out and showing a rainbow; Or if the sky goes black with lightening that shakes the earth. We'll see.

The appeal starts on the 24th. Everything will be ready with the usual huge media turnout. Amanda's defense team is geared up and ready as will be the thousand's of Knox supporters around the world- waiting for justice to finally show it's face. It's all good to go- and so is Amanda.  Pax (peace).

Amanda Knox Can Win Her Appeal: Things Change

The wind has changed direction in the Amanda Knox case. That old expression always holds  true- Things   change. Particularly over time and when people step back and see the forrest and not the trees; When passions cool and one begins to view things objectively, Or as simply as I can put it in reference to Amanda Knox- that was then and this is now. Everything has changed- and for the better.

Only a year ago with all those nasty false headlines claiming Amanda Knox was an 'out of control psycho' and many people thought Amanda was doomed because of all the negative hype. Yet- things change. With time and reason people eventually come around to a valid cause. And Amanda is more than a valid cause- to some people she is a hero- a reluctant hero. All Amanda wants is to go home to Seattle a free person and cleared of this murder charge. Still many people- even her close supporters were not optimistic about Amanda being freed on appeal. Or to state it better, they were cautiously optimistic. That of course is completely understandable. It seemed a nightmare where reality did not hold- or as some people would put it- 'the court in Perugia is blind' and they will never let her go- or Italy is corrupted and Amanda is doomed- Things change- Now there are many reasons to hope that Amanda will win on her first appeal.

It's an amazing thing to see- this complete turnaround. The case did not go away over time- it got bigger. Many people who thought Amanda guilty now have second thoughts. Positive books have been written about her including one by PM Rocco Girlanda- a politician in Italy who has stated he believes Amanda is innocent of the murder. People coming forward such as ex FBI agent Steve Moore stating his opinion that Amanda is completely innocent based on his research. And more and more people are becoming aware of the case and are concerned about Amanda. Also there is one huge plus, as I see it, the judges being switched from a civil judge with little experience in criminal cases to the new judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann- a man who is a defender of justice and is not afraid to overturn a high profile wrongful conviction such as Amanda's, and has done so in the past. Also the great many experts in the field of criminal investigation and forensics have stated there is nothing against Amanda to prove her guilt- with some saying outright that it is impossible for Amanda to have committed this crime. Even in the UK the Guardian in the last couple days has written an article questioning Amanda's conviction- It's all coming around to where it should be, But then there is Amanda and her family-

Even though Amanda is aware of the change in public opinion, she is not at peace. She has trouble sleeping and is very worried about the outcome of her appeal. She wants her life back so badly she is afraid to hope. She keeps this to herself and suffers privately yet puts on a brave face for others. She does not want her family to worry though I think they are very aware of what is going on. Imagine- a guilty person learns to resign themselves to their lot- they deserve all the days in prison they get and they know it. Yet for an innocent person in prison, it is a nightmare magnified. A surreal experience where nothing makes much sense and life seems lost- so sometimes perhaps it is better not to hope at all.

So to all the supporters of Amanda Knox, and to all of those who sympathize with her plight. To all of the members of her family Curt, Edda, Chris and Deanna and all the other members of her family- Let's look for a win and get it the hell over with- so you can all finally relax on this and Amanda will be free, and that is as it should be. It's easy to doubt, particularly since so much has gone wrong, but remember what it says in the Bible "learn to read the signs of the times". The wind on this has changed course- so let's dare to hope. I'm not an optimist by nature and like everyone else I have my doubts, but I do know one thing for certain- Things change.

Amanda Knox Indicted For Slander- Trial In May

Amanda Knox attended the slander hearing on Monday morning and was indicted to stand trial on May 17, 2011. Judge Claudia Matteini found that there was enough evidence to try Amanda on the slander charge- The evidence she was referring to is simply the fact that Amanda had said the police treated her badly with a cuff on the back of the head during her questioning by police in November 2007. Amanda had said this in her own defense at her trial for murder last year- and that's all the evidence there is. In Italy, that's all it takes. It is against the law to speak against the police in Italy- so it's another trial for Amanda in May

 The photo above was taken Monday morning  before the hearing. She wore a green sweater with her short cropped hair combed behind her ears. As can be seen from the photo she looked tired and depressed. After the hearing  her lawyer said she was "very sad" It was reported that at one point during the hearing Amanda broke down in tears. At the hearing Amanda said to the court "If they would have taped (the questioning) like they were suppose to, I wouldn't be in this mess".

The indictment came as no surprise to Amanda's family. Amanda's stepfather, Chris Mellas said to reporters "...we didn't expect much different from this lineup..." and stated that they would try and have the trial moved to Florence. Amanda's mother Edda was saddened by the indictment but not surprised. The entire family is looking forward to Amanda's appeal beginning November 24th, and indeed there does appear to be some hope there as a new judge has been appointed to hear the case, and is said to be a fair man.

As to the coming slander trial- I don't have a good feeling about it- almost like the deck is stacked. Amanda is put in the position to 'prove' she was treated badly by the police. Now how does one do that? One should not have to- This is the flip-side to American justice, where a charge like this does not even exist. It is simply a matter of a dozen Italian cops on one side and Amanda on the other. Can they prove they didn't treat her badly? They do not have to- not in Italy. Can Amanda prove they did get rough with her? How can she do that? She was alone in that room with all those police. It simply comes down to Amanda's word against the police. And how do you think that is going to come out?

Still, there is one excellent reason why this slander case should be thrown out of court, and the point was made by Amanda herself when she said "If they would have taped like they were suppose to, I wouldn't be in this mess". And that was probably the most profound and meaningful thing said in that courtroom Monday morning. The police did not tape the questioning of a murder suspect and she was a murder suspect at some point during that night, and yet the police did not tape it in breech of Italian law. And if they did tape it- they erased it. On those grounds alone this case should never see the inside of a courtroom. No one should have to guess what happened in that room- it should have been taped- it is mandatory to do so under Italian law. This is not a matter of opinion- that is the only fact that stands out in this slander case. Hopefully, come May 17th, the case will be thrown out of court, and hopefully her murder conviction already overturned on appeal coming in a few weeks. No one likes the smell of this slander charge which has prosecutor Mignini written all over it. Hopefully justice will come around and throw Amanda a bone- but I wouldn't take that to the bank- not in Perugia.

Amanda Knox Case- A Sinister Drawing? Analyze This

OMG, did you see that drawing by Amanda Knox? Really scary isn't it? I mean all those bright colors and I think you can even see a bone in the arm. Well does it or does it not prove that there is a dark side to Amanda?

Seems like the girl can't even change the way she parts her hair without some newspaper/tabloid trying to analyze it and make something "sinister" out of it. Yes I am referring to a certain news publication from the UK that obtained a drawing by Amanda Knox and claimed to have had it analyzed by some shrink and guess what- Yep, you guessed it- it just about proves, so it appears, she is guilty. As was stated the use of the bright colors of red and yellow suggests something sinister and seems to point to Amanda having a dark side, according to this 'person'. Geez, was that a self portrait of her or was she drawing someone else?

Personally I thought it was quite interesting and nicely done- I wasn't the least bit frightened- maybe that's just me. This is an ongoing thing with some in the UK, who can not seem to get past the "Foxy Knoxy" stage. I don't really think it takes much gumption to belittle a drawing from a girl in prison- after all, she was convicted right? So it seems in line to say that her drawings reveal her true nature. A 'sinister' person with a 'dark' side. Want to bet I can't find ten other shrinks to say the opposite?

I think we all get the point here- Did you really think that you could sink Knox with that 'self revealing' drawing? Or were you just trying to poison the waters for her upcoming appeal? Either way, I thought it a rather limp effort- my opinion only of course. That 'dark side' contention was so lame anyone with an IQ higher than Boo Radley can see right through it. Next time you want to kick a person when they are down to sell a story- make it a little more believable. However, if you really want to analyze something- provided you understand sign language- analyze this!

Amanda Knox Appeal: What Does It Take To Free Amanda Knox?

If you were looking for a quick solution- there are none. If you thought the U S military would break that girl out of jail- you were wrong. If you think there is a political solution- that would be a last resort- and only if enough people raised enough hell to push the U S State Department into action. So what then does it take to free Amanda Knox?

The simple answer is her Appeal which starts this November 24th, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding that. One would figure that an innocent woman would have her conviction overturned on appeal in Italy. It is reported that one third of appeals are successful in Italy. And if you are truly innocent than why wouldn't that be a sure thing in the Amanda Knox case? The simple answer is that this case is so complex and has the endorsement of so many judges who have been involved with stating Amanda is guilty. So many twists and turns and misinformation produced by the prosecution- who wants to say "we were wrong". But isn't that what the Italian appeals court is for? To judge if the original sentencing court was in error? Short answer is- yes. However, this is not an average case. This is a very high profile case that has the attention of a great many people in many countries. It is also a high pressure case with people's reputations riding on if Amanda Knox wins her appeal or not.

But- all of this should not be a factor- ideally. The main thing Amanda's appeal has to deal with is the judge's motivation report from the original sentencing court, which gives the reasons for it's guilty verdict. Anyone who has read that report should know it is not that difficult to prove it is full of errors and speculation. It is not difficult to prove that there was little to no evidence, and certainly 'reasonable doubt' is screaming to be heard. So considering all of this- What does it take to free Amanda Knox?

The answer is an appeals court that will put justice ahead of personal gain or saving face. An appeals court that will do the right thing based on the evidence and not who's reputation is at stake. An appeals court that is able to tell the truth from speculation and willing to apply the principle of justice. Then and only then will Amanda Knox go free. And what would the world then think if that happened? I think it would show that Italy is a place where justice is the prime consideration- regardless. I think the Italian justice system would come out looking like a hero. That they are big enough to overturn a wrongful conviction. That one corrupt prosecutor does not represent or influence the Italian judicial system, and by doing the right thing gain the respect and admiration of the world. No one asks that the appeals court free a guilty person, but rather, give an innocent woman back her life.
The evidence in this case demands no less than the freedom of Amanda Knox.

Amanda Knox Case- Key Interview With the Devil's Advocate Mazinni

The following is a piece of fiction regarding one to the main characters in the Amanda Knox case. He was kind enough to spare some of his valuable time and help us get a better understanding of the behind the scenes tactics that led to the Knox conviction.

Interviewer: Mr Mazinni, thank you for being with us today.

Mazinni: No problem.

Interviewer: Besides the evidence presented at court, what was it about Amanda Knox that led you to believe she was a valid suspect in the murder case?

Mazinni: Oh there were many things. She was behaving strangely, I guess from smoking the plants. But there were other things beside. You know she do a wheel right here in the police station.

Interviewer: A wheel?

Mazinni: Si

Interviewer: Oh you mean the famous cartwheel

Mazinni: Yes

Interviewer: Well that has been explained as a yoga exercise to reduce stress.

Mazinni: Do not believe it. Many experience police here and they know a wheel when they see one.

Interviewer: Mr Mazinni, do you know what yoga is?

Mazinni: No, but that is not important. That was something that was made up to try and confuse us. It was a wheel I tell you.

Interviewer: Ok fine. Let me ask you this sir. It has been reported that a picture of Amanda Knox was placed on what is called the Wall of Shame in Rome, before she was even charged and evidence gathered.

Mazinni: Yes that is true. But I didn't put it there. You know sometimes you can not wait for all the little evidence to show up so you have to use your brain. That's why we are here. And do not forget, she do a wheel, like I told you.

Interviewer: Yes I remember.

Mazinni: I am late. I have time for only one more question.

Interviewer: Alright sir, let me ask you this- This case seems to have brought a lot of criticism from the United States directed at the legal system here in Italy and at you in particular. How do you feel about that?

Mazinni: Well you know I do not pay much attention to what the American news say. And now you have all the- how you say- blogs, where everyone is writing things. And one of the worst is this Saint Michael. I find out that is not even his real name. He made it up. All he says is lies so do not believe a word of it. He is a son of a bitch, and I gonna sue him too.
Now I must really go for certain.

Interviewer: Thank you for your time Mr Mazinni, it's been............ unbelievable.

AMANDA KNOX: SLANDER, APPEALS, AND THE GAUNTLET OF PRESSURE

No one saw Amanda Knox this Friday morning in Perugia- no one with a camera that is. The hearing was off limits to reporters. Some saw a closed prison van pull up at a side door that was blocked by police, and others saw several vans pull into an underground entrance to the courthouse, but they didn't see Amanda.

Inside the courtroom the hearing lasted less than an hour and then she was whisked away back to Capanne prison. The reporters got a few scraps of information from the inside after the hearing, most notably from her lawyers, but there was nothing much of news except that a new date of November 8 was set for arguments to be heard- and the way she looked.

The word from inside was that she looked "drawn and pale" and looks to have gained weight. One of her lawyers, Luciano Ghirga said "She has hardened herself, she has become more unhappy and less serene". While her lawyers are trying to get her through the slander circus her appeal awaits a short distance ahead on November 24th. One or the other would be enough but the two together appears to be taking it's toll on Amanda's health. Photographs taken of her last June show her in short cropped hair and looking tense with light circles under her eyes just beginning to show. And of course the pressure continues with the slander issue continued on Nov 8th and her appeal later that month.

It must be a roller-coaster of emotions as important court dates come and go, and then continued with no certain closure in sight. She has held up well in the past under pressure but lately things seem to be wearing her down. Another of her lawyers Maria del Grosso said recently: "She is very down. I've told her to be tough. It won't help to fall apart now". Perhaps the best thing for Amanda at this point in time would be to try and stay focused on what is really important- such as her appeal on Novemeber 24. The slander case is not of prime importance compared to the appeal- but it is in fact just one more thing to set one's nerves on edge. Almost a form of harassment designed to keep the pressure on. It's like running a gauntlet where the whips are replaced with tension, fear, doubt, and loneliness; Like a bad dream where you can't wake-up.

At the same time as the Italian legal machine moves slowly along, one has to wonder as concerns Amanda, an innocent young woman, how much can she take- how much is enough?

Amanda Knox and Slander In Italy

Slander huh? I wasn't going to go there. I was going to leave it to other people- blogs, newspapers, TV reporters, etc... It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say, I just figured it was probably best if I didn't say it. You know, kind of hold my tongue and wait for the outcome. Then I realized that way too many people are holding their tongues as concerns Amanda Knox- people in positions of power- People who could make a difference. Well that sure isn't me- all I can do is sound off about things. I don't have to worry about if it's politically correct, or if the prosecutor's office in Perugia is getting bent out of shape because someone is voicing their opinion on the matter.

I kind of have a feeling though that the powers that be in the U S are paying attention to the Amanda Knox situation. Just being quiet and waiting for the outcome of things. It is completely understandable that Hilary Clinton did nothing as concerns Amanda's conviction last December. What could she do? Butting into a murder conviction that was handed down in another country is not 'politically correct'. Not unless the conviction was so plainly biased that even the average person on the street is complaining about it- and the average person in this instance, knows very little about Amanda's plight. I do have to give credit though to some people who did defend the principle- politically correct or not, and that would be a certain judge and junior senator from the state of Washington.

However, this is not a murder conviction this time. This is a case of slander that Amanda is charged with. Something where in the U S the average person is free of such nonsense. People are free to grumble about the police and politicians in America- we do it all the time. And people are free to say what they want in their own defense in court without fear that the local prosecutor will file criminal charges and the police try and sue you for money.

All because Amanda actually had the 'nerve' to say the Perugia police were getting aggressive with her- including a couple cuffs on the back of the head. And she actually had the 'nerve' to say this in court in her own defense. She must have thought she was back home in the land of the free, without realizing that in Italy one does not talk against the police (does it actually warn you of this in travel guides?).

So this Friday, October 1st, Amanda goes to court for slander, and faces a judge that has dealt harshly with her in the past- one Claudia Matteini. Despite Amanda's defense objections to this judge sitting in on the case- she refused to step aside and she was confirmed by a higher court to be qualified. So I guess we can rest assured that there will be no bias from Judge Matteini.

And it keeps getting better- Amanda's parents are also charged and have a court date for October 15th. It appears that they repeated what Amanda had told them about that night at the police station to a British reporter and Mignini charged them also. No wonder they want to make a movie out of the Amanda Knox case- it beat's the hell out of fiction.

As surreal as all this appears I still can not imagine, how exactly does one lose a case like this in court. That night in question was never taped by the police in breech of Italian law, so how would the police prove Amanda was lying (as they contend) and how would Amanda prove that she was telling the truth? Does it in fact come down to who the judge chooses to believe? Does she take the word of a dozen cops or does she find Amanda is being truthful? As concerns Amanda it seems there is never much evidence against her- yet evidence has never played much of a part in finding her guilty. Is this time going to be any different? I can only hope that if things go badly for Amanda that the powers that be in this country are watching, and are prepared to speak out and defend the principle.

Judges Motivation Report Should Free Amanda Knox

The so-called Motivation Report which was released in March 2010 and signed by Judges Giancarlo Massei and Beatrice Cristiani should do more to free Amanda Knox at her coming appeal in November than many people realize. Contrary to what some people think- it is NOT a damning report. Instead, this long wordy report clearly shows the lack of critical thinking on the part of those responsible for Amanda's conviction in December 2009.

The original report was released in Italian, but there has been an English translation available online since mid August 2010. This English translation has been thrown in the face of anyone who thinks Amanda Knox is innocent- by those who think she is guilty of course. It makes me wonder if those who praise the report have actually given it a good read, or if they are simply suffering from the same faulty thinking as the judges who wrote it.

This post is not an attack on Italy or the Italian legal system. Nor is this a put-down of the Italian legal tradition of writing motivation reports after a trial. My sole purpose here is to point out that this particular report, the one that supported Amanda's conviction for murder, is full of errors, faulty thinking and speculation. And I intend to back up what I say.

I have gone over this report in detail and it is now up as a separate page linked to this forum/blog. My intention is to go over the important issues and point out the errors and speculation that the motivation report contains. This will be ongoing and over time- taking one issue only at a time. There is a lot of information and one needs to digest it little by little- one point at a time- in order to fully comprehend the difference between the reality of events and what is simply speculation unsupported by fact.

You will find a page called Motivation Report In Focus and it is located under 'pages' seen on the upper right side of the main forum page (home). There is a place to comment and ask questions for those who wish to do so, providing the comments are civilized and to the point. I have started with the so-called 'staged break-in' and will move forward from there. I will be using the English translation and any quotes from the report will be based on that. Hopefully this will open a few people's eyes, however if one does not wish to see the point then they won't. All that is required is an open mind and an IQ higher than Boo Radley- and we're good to go.
THE MOTIVATION REPORT IN FOCUS PAGE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND THE FIRST PARTS ARE READY AND LOCATED AT THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE MAIN FORUM PAGE- UNDER THE CAPTION "PAGES". IT WILL BE ADDED TO UNTIL THE ENTIRE REPORT HAS BEEN COVERED.

The Myths About Amanda

I think what is necessary at this point in time is to address some misinformation that has been going round and round the web for months now. Not all those interested in this case have the same knowledge of the case. Some believe Amanda is guilty and some think she is innocent, yet what comes to mind is the old saying: It's not what you believe- it's why you believe it. This site/blog was created for the purpose to educate those who wanted to know more about the case and Amanda herself. That is not a simple task as from the beginning misinformation has been planted to make the case more complex than it needs to be.
I will start by addressing some of the myths surrounding Amanda Knox and the case in general. I will stick to the known facts and common sense- hopefully that will suffice.

Myth: Amanda Knox is a psychopath/ An anti-social personality.
Really? And where did that come from? The simple answer is that it came from a group of people who do not like Amanda Knox- whatever their reasons. They either think, or want her to be guilty and go to great lengths to try and convince others that she is some kind of dangerous mental case. There is no history of any anti-social behavior regarding Amanda. The key word here is 'empathy'. Anti-social personalities do not care about others, yet Amanda has a reputation for being kind and helpful to many people. Her friends say she is amazing and will help anyone in need. Her teachers say, she is the first one to help out others in their schoolwork or anyone in need. So how then did this myth originate? Probably from the beginning of the trial when she would be photographed smiling and seemingly making light of it all. That's Amanda- she is known for trying to see the good in any situation- and try to lighten the drama. I think in the beginning she did not think it was a charge to be taken seriously- that it was a mistake that would be cleared up and she would go home. It is called making the best of a bad situation. If it was tactful or not is beside the point. As the trial progressed I think she changed her opinion and became more serious when she saw- not the evidence- but the determination of the prosecution to convict her. It is a fact that anti-social personalities do not possess the quality of empathy yet Amanda is known to have this quality in abundance.

Myth: Amanda must be guilty- she confessed and falsely accused an innocent man.
The two do not go hand in hand. Many people who make confessions under stress, are in fact innocent. They are not guilty just because they made a false confession and that is exactly what Amanda did. Shortly after making this so-called confession she sent a note to the police retracting it. To understand the reasons for this, one must put themselves in Amanda's shoes at the time and place this so-called confession happened. Consider now- You are an American in Italy. You are 20 years old and you do not speak Italian very well. Your room mate in Italy has just been murdered and you find yourself in a police station, being worked on for hours and hours until you are so tired all you want to do is sleep. You are alone- no lawyer- no friends or family present. And you are being yelled at and grilled in Italian- a language you do not understand well. Now there are other details which are not completely clear such as did the police hit her? Did she understand correctly what was being said to her? Were things suggested to her? Was she threatened? etc... One fact does remain clear- the Italian Supreme Court stated that Amanda's rights were violated during the so-called confession and was not to be used against her. People will do a lot of things under stress- including making a false confession just to make a bad situation stop and get some sleep. Did the police mention Patrick and push his name over and over until she said something they wanted to hear. Interestingly the so-called confession was never taped as it was suppose to have been according to Italian law- so we will never know for certain exactly what went on in that police station. So, does this 'confession', made after long hours make Amanda Knox guilty? No it does not, particularly as it was retracted almost immediately. There are many cases of false confessions on record in all countries, and making one does not make a person guilty. The police are very good at what they do. They know how to wear a person down- hey, they literally do it for a living.

Myth: The DNA left at the scene proves Amanda Knox is guilty.
Actually- no. The DNA left at the scene of the crime in Meredith's bedroom (murder room) by Amanda is just about zero. The only thing the prosecution had for Amanda's DNA is traces of her DNA in the house in general- but considering she lived in that house that is not surprising. There is no DNA evidence of Amanda's in the murder room. The only thing the prosecution could put forth- and mistakenly- was that there was a knife taken from her boyfriend's apartment that had Amanda's DNA on the handle- um- she cooked in that house- her DNA should have been on the handle. And- they found Meredith's DNA on the blade (so they say). Now that shakes things up right? Not when you know the facts. The DNA of Meredith's on the blade was not blood and it was so tiny an amount that it is called LCN DNA (Low Copy Number DNA) which means it is so small an amount that special testing only would reveal it.
Now- the problem with LCN DNA is that it in many cases is the result of contamination. Now what that means is, it is so tiny an amount that it can literally be transported from one place to another by a light breeze. Or what is called secondary transfer- which means one person gets the DNA on their feet or hands and transfers it to a different location. Also there is the high probability that such LCN DNA can be transfered in the police lab that is testing it. How?
First of all the Italian lab that did the testing was not qualified to do LCN DNA testing and for such testing to be valid it calls for a special lab- sterile with no other items being tested in the lab- The Italian lab was testing everything and DNA does get on people's clothes and on their feet and even transported through the air. So it goes without saying the Italian lab that did the testing was not the environment to preform such tests and that the results of such tests should be viewed as probable contamination.
It is worth noting that an independent group of forensic experts has found that the evidence of DNA in the Amanda Knox case should not be used as it is quite possibly the result of contamination. These experts were from the U S and the UK- a group of a dozen experts in the field of LCN DNA testing. So please do not get confused about the DNA in this case- to put it rather simply and to the point, the DNA in this case was a joke and should never have been used in a court of law to convict anyone. The DNA in this case was simply put- invalid. I am not giving my opinion- I am giving you the results of the experts in this field that have disputed the so-called DNA evidence in the Amanda Knox trial.
If you do not understand- please ask and I will do the best I can to explain it better- it is a rather complex issue and one that most people just pass by- But, considering that it is one of the things that the Italian jury found as evidence to convict Amanda Knox- it is worth knowing.

Amanda Knox Appeal Forum

As some of the world knows, Amanda Knox's appeal is coming up in a few months. This is the forum to ask your questions, give your advice, and basically share your opinions on the coming appeal. Your posts should be confined to what do you think Amanda's chances are of winning on appeal? What advice do you have for a sucessful appeal? What are the limitations to the appeal process in Italy, if any? Suggestions to share on what the Knox defense should put forth to better Amanda's chances to overturn her conviction.

Please take note that this in not the place to hash out all the evidence, or to express personal hatred of either Amanda or her co-defendent. This is a forum to express opinions and ask questions related to the up-coming appeal to overturn Amanda's murder conviction.

Please be civil and stick to topic. Anyone clearly out of line will be blocked from posting. Any hateful dicussion will be deleted. I am aware of the contention between the pro-Knox and anti-Knox factions- and I will state this clearly- this is not the forum for such contention. Hopefully this will be a fruitful and productive discussion; An exchange of ideas and opinions without getting militant or abusive. I would like to see how many of you view Amanda as innocent and do you think her appeal will be sucessful, and why do you think so?

Update September 4, 2010 Note: If you do not see the comment box below- click on the word comment at the end to pull up the comments and comment screen.
Some news lately about one Rocco Girlanda and a book due to be published in October 2010 which he wrote based on his interviews with Amanda in prison. Seems Amanda's family does not know what the content of the book is about, and I am sure more than a few are jealous who make their living from the pen. Rocco however is not a reporter, but rather a member of the Italian parliament, and head of the Italy-USA foundation. He has however interests in several newpapers and has published before as a journalist. Hopefully it is a book that is objective and fair, as the timing is of supreme importance. Amanda is due for a court appearence in October for slander and the following month is her appeal. And I need not point out that the book will probably be read by those sitting across the room from Amanda at these court hearings. At this point no one knows if this is a good thing or a bad one as far as Amanda is concerned. It all comes down to what the true intention is of Rocco Girlanda, and for that we will have to wait till October to find out when the book is published. The reported title of the book is "Take Me With You: Talks With Amanda Knox In Prison". As repoted- the book contains nothing about the trial. It is well known that Amanda is a trusting soul. This October we will know if her trust was well placed.
I personally feel that Mr Girlanda's intention was most likely to show a side of Amanda few know outside her circle of family and friends. A book about Amanda as an individual- her thoughts, her love of Italy, and her hopes for the future. It is reported that the book will also contain some of Amanda's poetry. Hopefully, this book will have a very positive influence on important coming events, and particularly Amanda's appeal.