Amanda Knox Nightmare Finally Over With Murder Conviction Overturned

Italy's highest court overturned the murder conviction of Amanda Knox Friday evening bringing to an end the 8 year legal nightmare for her and former boyfriend. The court will not allow another trial, and so it ends here with Amanda and Raffaele being acquitted of murder. Congratulations to both Amanda and Raffaele, and good luck for the future. An unbelievably long drawn out legal battle for the pair is finally over, or as they say in Italian- Finito.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Petitions, Extradition, Double Jeopardy, and Who Hit the Panic Button

February 4, 2014

It seems the recent guilty verdict by the Italian court made more than a few people panic. This was compounded by the news stories circulating about how Amanda would be extradited to Italy. So called experts and international lawyers were saying how Knox was now in a very bad position. And I was buying into this nonsense also.

Now that the smoke is clearing a bit, and after doing a little research on extradition and also on petitions, I think some people including myself jumped the gun on this. First I want to clear a few things up. About the petition I originally mentioned a few days ago- I was referring to a 'long term' petition. I found out after writing that post that 2 petitions were started the day before my post at the white house site- We the People.
This type of petition has a 30 day time limit with a threshold of 100,000 signatures required to get a response from the White House. Now I don't know who started these petitions at the government site, but I'm sure their heart is in the right place. But the problem with these type of petitions is the time limit- 30 days- it actually ends on March 1, 2014. Even if these petitions made the required threshold for White House response- all the government would say is: Hey, Italy did not ask for us to extradite Amanda Knox. And that's all they would have to say about that.

If the Italian Supreme Court upholds the guilty verdict they may ask for Knox to be extradited. There are also reasons they may not ask. So these current white house petitions are not going to block an extradition that is not even on the table. On the other hand- these petitions are certainly not harming anything either. It should be pointed out however that the majority of Knox supporters will probably not sign a petition where there is no present threat to Amanda. Without realizing they were quick 30 day petitions I sign them myself. No harm done, and I'm not sorry I did. It does show support for the cause, but other than showing support they have no practical value. This type of petition will have value if Italy ever asks the U S to turn over Amanda Knox.

Now about extradition. A few news/online blogs are stating that the U S would have to turn over Knox if Italy requested it. THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
The U S does not HAVE to extradite Knox and common sense dictates that they probably will not. Just because there is a treaty between the U S and Italy does not mean we hand over people blindly. There are clauses in most treaties- and one of the most common is: that 'probable cause to believe' that the person asked for committed the offense. These trials in Italy against Knox and Sollecito have been internationally condemned by a great many people including law makers and forensic scientists. Also, the guilty 26 years....not guilty you can go..........guilty 28.5 years verdicts do not set well with the American people or the U S Constitution. Add to this the facts that Knox had no legal rep, was assulted during interrogation, and was hoodwinked into making false statements- and I think the U S has a dozen reasons to say NO to Italy if they ever come calling. To put it simply- this is no average case where the U S would feel compelled to comply with extradition. This case is an exception to the rule and that's putting it mildly.

As far as double jeopardy (to be tried more than once/ sentenced more than once for the same crime) in this country it is forbidden by the U S Constitution. But the trials were held in Italy under Italian law, so it is not as simple as it sounds. Even the law experts are divided as to whether this constitutes double jeopardy. Whether the State Dept thinks so or not is not the last resort to saving Amanda from extradition. This case was tainted from the very beginning- and that's not a secret. I can not see the Secretary of State handing over an obviously innocent person to be jailed overseas simply because there is a treaty. Bottom line is- this case does not meet the conditions necessary for the U S to approve extradition.

As for that panic button- I think I hit it myself after I heard the recent verdict- I'm better now.

No Justice For Knox in Italy: Sentenced to 28 years

January 30, 2014
The Amanda Knox trial, number 3, has ended today with a shocking verdict of guilty. She has been sentenced by the Florence court to 28 years, with Raffaele Sollecito receiving a 25 year sentence.

Amanda Knox is safe in Seattle, WA. and did not go to Italy for the trial, however, Raffaele Sollecito was at the court today- and he, at the moment, is in harm's way. While the Italian court can not simply pluck Amanda out of the U.S., Sollecito will have his passport taken away at the very least, as ordered by the court. His arrest is also possible, although the court did not officially order it.

Last year the Italian supreme court overturned the innocent verdict which freed the two, and round 3 of this never ending nightmare was kicked up in Florence and ended with a ridiculous verdict of guilty today. Knox's lawyer delivered the news to her via telephone and stated that she was  "petrified" by the verdict. How Sollecito took the news is not as important as what he plans to do about it (I know what I'd do if I were in his shoes). He showed great faith in getting justice from the court, and it blew-up in his face. Did he have a plan B? Amanda on the other hand, had the good sense to stay the hell home, but as she well knows- her safety is not guaranteed. There is still the possibility of extradition to Italy to serve her sentence. And, at the moment, she stands a convicted murderer. With that said, one must keep in mind that conviction does not automatically correlate with justice- and justice in Italy seems to be in the eye of the beholder- or which judge and jury is pulling duty- or maybe even which way the wind is blowing. However, one thing seems certain, justice in this case seems to have nothing to do with proving guilt or innocence. How two judges and six members of the jury can find Knox and Sollecito guilty with no evidence or convincing proof is completely surreal. It's damn scary.

Amanda Knox Ordered To Stand New Trial By Italian Court- Again

March 26, 2013

The Italian Supreme Court has thrown out the innocent verdict Amanda Knox received in October of 2011- which set her free- and has ordered her to stand trial yet again. The reason? They didn't give one yet- at least one that made any sense. Rather than review the details of the case, the Italian court looked only for an "error in procedure". This new trial is to take place in the city of Florence and not Perugia as in the first two trials.

For those not aware of the facts: Amanda Knox was found guilty of murdering her room-mate Meredith  (a Brit who was studying in Perugia at the same time as Knox) along with Amanda's ex boyfriend Raffaele. Amanda was sentenced to 26 years and Raffaele to 25 years. The two spent four years in Italian prisons before their convictions were overturned on appeal in October 2011. Knox then left Italy and returned to her hometown of Seattle, and Raffaele returned to his home which is near Bari Italy. And all seemed well, with a great many people rejoicing that the Italian appeal court finally got the right verdict of not guilty and released the pair. The prosecution of course was none too pleased, and appealed to the Italian Supreme Court for a new trial. Shockingly, the Italian Supreme court overturned the innocent verdicts and now order both Amanda and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele to stand a new trial on the murder charge. This new turn of events is absolutely shocking, and completely ridiculous.

Actually- it's quite stupid, but I guess the Italian courts love a good show so much they just could not let such a juicy opportunity slip by. They are certainly peeing against wind on this one, as Amanda is an American citizen- safe in the U S- and in this country we do not try people twice for the same crime. It's called DOUBLE JEOPARDY! (and yes that is the legal term for it). I don't know what afflicts these prosecutors over there that they keep trying to convict two innocent people with no evidence, and when they already have the real murderer in prison. Well, I'm not going to spit nails over this foolishness, but I do think that THIS TIME the U S State Dept. needs to address this issue, and inform Italy as to the legal rights of U S citizens who have already been found not guilty....... Unbelievable.

Amanda Knox Appeal Forum: Concerning Australia...New Post For Schapelle Corby

May 8, 2012 - The new post is for Schapelle Corby. Click the link below to go to the Schapelle Corby Freedom Forum "And God Said: Let There Be Light- But Not In Australia"   >schapellecorbyfreedomforum.blogspot.com<

Amanda Knox Appeal: Now That Amanda Is Free - A New Cause For The Fight Against Injustice

May 3, 2012 - It was a hard ride for many supporters of Amanda Knox, but in the end justice won out over lies and corruption. It was not the so-called 'PR Machine' nor the compassion of any government that led to Amanda Knox being set free last October 3rd. It was you, the many thousands of you who would not stand for such an injustice to triumph. It showed what the common people can do when they stand together against an injustice; It was the power of public opinion, and it's effect on courts and governments who seemed content to remain indifferent. It was massive non-violent public opinion at it's finest. And Amanda Knox went home to Seattle after four years of injustice because enough angry people refused to remain silent, and demanded that truth win out over lies.

It doesn't happen often, but it happens when enough people take a stand and speak-up. Sometimes though, when there are not enough voices to be heard, the other 'Amanda Knox's' of this world do not get to go home. The world is full of such victims simply because there is not enough support for them. Injustice triumphs when there are too few to oppose it. Such is the case of a young Australian woman who has been locked away on the island of Bali in Indonesia for almost 8 years. Her name is Schapelle Corby, and she desperately needs the world's help.

After many years of indifference by the majority of people in her own country, I invite the people of the world to familiarize themselves with her plight, and lend their support for her cause. I have started a forum on her to create a global awareness of her case, and the deplorable conditions of her imprisonment. Like the Amanda Knox case, Corby was the victim of corruption, lies, false news stories, and a growing indifference brought about by the silence of her own home government. Her plight is not unknown, yet the average person outside of Australia has never heard her name. To go to the forum I started up just last month just click on the link below.   The forum is open for comments and discussion, and provides links to information on her case. I have included a photo of her below. There are many others and videos concerning Schapelle Corby at the new forum. It is my hope that what the people of the world did for Amanda Knox, they can do for this girl. If we do not stand up for her- she will not survive.  schapellecorbyfreedomforum.blogspot.com

This is an independent forum and this is not to suggest any endorsement by Amanda Knox. I have no idea if Amanda is even aware of the Schapelle Corby case. Hopefully she is.

Amanda Knox Signs 4 Million Dollar Book Deal With HarperCollins

February 16, 2012 - Amanda Knox has just signed a deal with the publishers HaperCollins for close to $4M. for her book which is due out in early 2013. It was certainly no mystery that Amanda was writing a book, and it was no secret that there was a recent 'auction' to determine who would publish that book. Personally I was not surprised that it went for $4M despite some publishers saying the book would be a gamble. There was plenty of interest among the major publishers with bids coming in from at least seven, and with interest from about twenty different publishers, with lucky HarperCollins signing Amanda for an estimated $4M (one source I know of states $3.8M) for World Rights.

To those who may think that HaperCollins is taking a big gamble with their $4M, I would have to say I think they got a good deal considering the book will probably be a best seller in the U S, and not only that but with World Rights millions more will be sold in Great Britain, Italy, and Germany, where there is a lot of interest in the case.

While it is true that there have been other books about the murder of Meredith and the arrest and trials of Amanda Knox, no one except Knox can tell this story from a first person point of view. No one except Knox can tell all the hidden details of the case, and her personal experiences inside Capanne prison. No one except Amanda Knox has the inside story, and that is exactly what a great many people want to hear- what really happened according to Amanda Knox. That is exactly the recipe for a non-fiction best seller in this country, and Europe also.

HarperCollins has stated that the book will reveal "never before told details surrounding the case". One of HC's top editors Claire Wachtel is the editor appointed to work with Knox on this book, and the book is scheduled to be released in early 2013. Although HaperCollins has not stated such as yet- expect translations in German, Italian and French to quickly follow the American edition. With such a large market at their disposal for this book, I don't think HaperCollins will have any trouble making a substantial profit on their investment.... Congratulations to Amanda and Family.

Coming to a bookstore near you.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Hellmann Motivation Report Intelligently Supports Not Guilty Verdict

Italy has redeemed itself. Logic has overruled speculation, and a 21st century witch-hunt has come to an end with the release of Judge Hellmann's report explaining the reasons for the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.

A 143 page report was released yesterday which clearly defends the verdict of the Italian Appeals Court which overturned the conviction of Amanda Knox. To anyone who has done the research on this case there were really no surprises- simply common sense replacing speculation and outright fiction (as in the case of the lower court's original guilty verdict).

The major points of the report supporting Hellmann's not guilty verdict are:
No logical motive.
DNA evidence condemned by court appointed experts
Lower court did not prove Knox was at the scene of crime.
Faulty time of death used by lower court (Hellmann moves the time of death back an hour).
Amanda Knox behavior dismissed as not a sign of guilt as people behave differently under stress.
Hellmann disputes Knox and Sollecito involvement with Guede as improbable. No evidence of communication with Guede exists (no e-mails, no phone calls or text messages).
Hellmann condemns police questioning as causing great psychological stress leading to falsely accusing Lumumba. Hellmann states that Knox told the police what she thought they wanted to hear out police induced psychological stress. In fact, Hellmann says, that to use the word 'stress' would be understating the event.
Witnesses produced by the prosecution were unreliable.

These are most of the main points of Hellmann's report. There is of course much more to the report than I have stated, but the above address most of the important issues as regards the not guilty verdict.

At this point in time, some may be wondering about the prosecution appealing the verdict. My thinking is- good luck with that. An appeal will not change the facts. The prosecution would still need to find fault with the Hellmann report in a rational manner in order to gain an appeal- in other words they would have to dispute common sense with nothing more than foolish speculation. And even if the prosecution managed to pull off another trial, you can take it to the bank that Amanda Knox will not be present. The United States will never extradite Knox to Italy and the prosecution knows it. It would all be just a foolish waste of time. The 'Foxy Knoxy' circus is worn out; the witch-hunt is over.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Heroes And Villains Of the Amanda Knox Case

October 23, 2011 - Despite the fact that Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were freed of this nightmare as of October 3, 2011,  it really is not over - not if one wants to balance the accounts in this ridiculous case. And that is exactly what people are saying on numerous sites- How can Italy get away with this injustice of sending innocent people to prison for 4 years? And who is to pay for it? All good questions. And there are answers.

Yet just as there are villains in this case there are also heroes. It was a very frustrating ordeal for many people and most could do nothing about it. Personally, I have always secretly delighted in sending in the 82nd Airborne division, just in case Italy failed to redeem itself- but of course that would have been politically incorrect right? Well that was never really a practical consideration, however it does appeal to one's Rambo instincts in the face of injustice. Some people would say that was a typical American mentality, but then again, Americans by nature have always fought against injustice. Like Teddy Roosevelt once said "Speak softly, but carry a big stick". Yet with the Amanda Knox case going on in Italy I think most Americans felt rather helpless and simply 'hoped' it would all work out for the sake of justice. And it did. But who was responsible for that? Who were the heroes that brought, or at least helped this case to justice at last.

One of the first people to raise hell about this case- even before it was widely considered to be the right thing to do- Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell was up in arms the very day of Amanda Knox's conviction in December 2009. Although people were trying to shout her down, she took it all the way to the secretary of state Hillary Clinton's office. What happened after that is all hush, hush. What happened at the state dept level is not common knowledge- but the important thing to remember is that Maria was RIGHT. She took what was once a 'politically incorrect' situation and went for the gusto, because it was the right thing to do. A citizen of her state was found guilty in a trial she paid close attention to and she believed Amanda was being railroaded and she defended the principle. Although I generally despise politicians- Maria Cantwell is a hero in this case. The people of the state of Washington should be thankful to have her. And no she is not my sister. She just plain kicks ass when it's the right thing to do- all politics aside.

There are other heroes of course- too many to mention, but Maria stands out because it was so- not career orientated. So human and so noble. And of course judge H. from Seattle- Well I don't want to say your full name or maybe you'll get in trouble again for defending Amanda. Just kidding- the name of this gentleman is Judge Michael Heavey- God bless you. This is another person who put all thoughts aside as to the reaction and did the right thing. One other person who needs to be mentioned is of course Judge Hellman and with him the Italian jury who freed Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. I knew he would do the right thing and I have said this for the last year. Why? Because he is a good and just man and did not play into the "she is guilty because the prosecution says she is" lie. He is a hero for the Italian justice system, and it is to his credit that he did not submit to the prosecution's fairy-tale with absolutely no evidence to back them up. And the world has seen this man do justice to this case, and he will always be remembered for that.

Ah and now for the villains. We all know who they are. Problem is, what to do with them. Well I think we would know if they were under US law, but unfortunately they are all in Italy- the land of very slow justice. Quick to detain and slow to release- Italy. I think prosecutor Comodi can be forgiven as she was not in charge- although she was way out of line. Rather it is the prosecutor Mignini who should be brought low for his ridiculous case against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. I can not imagine what goes through this man's mind. What did he think he was doing? I find it hard to believe the man is simply clueless in this case- I think he knew very well what he was doing and that was just business as usual. That may be business in Italy, but in the rest of the world it is called malicious prosecution. If you don't mind me saying so sir- You need to go to jail. And when you are there you need to remember what you did to two innocent young people to try and ruin their lives. I think you know better. I don't think for a minute you thought you were doing the right thing. I think you are way past that now, and only think about putting your fantasies into action regardless of the cost to other people's lives. People say you are a good Catholic and go to church- So do a lot of 'Sunday Catholics'. I too am a Catholic, but unlike you I remember the teachings of the Church in regards to sin and one of the first things you learn is this "If you know the right thing to do, and do not do it- you sin". I think you knew these two defendants were innocent and you tried to ruin their lives to save your shady career. Fortunately, your lies did not last and they were released. Pissed you off didn't it? Well get use to it because I think a lot worse is coming. Now Amanda would never say things like this to you- she is too sweet and passive. I on the other hand have no such scruples. You had better pray there is not an investigation coming your way, because if there is, you can count on picking olives in some remote little field where no one will ever hear from you again.

And as far as this case is concerned- that will be justice.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Amanda Says To Court: Do Justice. Jury Retires to Decide Verdict

October 3, 2011 - Amanda Knox addressed the court in Perugia this morning, ending her statement in almost a whisper with "Do Justice". She didn't break down but was clearly emotional, fighting back tears several times she told the court in fluent Italian: "I didn't kill. I didn't rape. I didn't steal." During her address Amanda's sister Deanna wept, as did one of Knox's lawyers Maria del Grosso. Referring to the police questioning of November 4-5 almost almost 4 years ago Knox said: "I wasn't just stressed and pressured, I was manipulated. I trusted the police blindly, and I was betrayed". She had to pause several times and take a deep breath, and appeared to be trembling sightly. Her statement lasted about ten minutes but she clearly said what was in her heart- at one point saying "I just want to go home...". Her fellow defendant Raffaele Sollecito spoke just before Knox, addressing the court for about 15 minutes. At the end of his statement Raffaele took off a bracelet that had the words Free Amanda and Raffaele. He said he wanted to honor the court because he had never taken it off since it was given to him, but now hoped he wouldn't need it anymore. It was to show his trust in the court.

The jury retired to come to a verdict on this case. The judge has said that there would not be a verdict before 8pm local time (Italy) corresponding to 7pm in the UK, 2pm eastern time U S and 11am in Seattle. What that verdict will be no one knows yet, but I can not imagine anything except Amanda and Raffaele being freed today- No other verdict makes sense. The only other possible verdict- in case of some sort of deadlock in the jury room, would be convicting them of a lesser charge and freeing them with time served. A guilty verdict in my opinion is incomprehensible. That would be a tragedy.

Personally, I am wreck as I wait for the verdict wired on coffee. I have put on the forum videos of the Beatles in honor of Amanda's love for the song Let It Be. Strangely, the song seems to fit this occasion where the world is divided as to her guilt or innocence, and waiting for this jury to give an answer as to the verdict. If you do not know the song:
"And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.

Or just listen to the video by clicking on the first box with Paul McCartney. It will give you something to do as you bite your nails and wait for the verdict.
I don't think my opinion of an innocent verdict is off the mark. Even the priest at Capanne prison thinks Amanda is innocent. He had said today that he will see Amanda when she comes back to the prison today to wait for the jury's verdict. He said he hopes that is the last time he will see her, and she gets to go home. I bet you he is praying for her right now.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Overwhelming Support For Knox Is Not The Result Of So-Called P R Machine

October 1, 2011- There has been a lot of talk lately about the so-called Knox P R Machine. Just the name anti-Knox factions give it is kind of ridiculous because it is not a 'machine' of any kind, and has not had much of an impact on public opinion. The misleading term P R Machine gives one the false impression that this 'machine' runs the media, and therefore controls public opinion in favor of Amanda Knox- this is of course complete foolishness. In reality, no one controls the media and the media is not run by any one 'machine'. This term was coined by anti-Knox factions to make it appear that the recent overwhelming support of Amanda's innocence is the product of some kind of 'brainwashing' of the public by the media and pro-Knox sites. Even prosecutor Mignini (a well known fibber) was using this line to try and get the jury to think that favorable news about Amanda was not real, but the product of some 'p r machine' backed by millions of dollars. This is complete............ horse-feathers.

The major news networks are not controlled by outside forces. And the major so-called pro-Knox sites are not part of any machine and is not being paid by the Knox family. All of the major pro-Knox sites are simply private ventures of people who believe in Amanda's innocence and wanted to do something about the injustice of her conviction. Frank's site Perugia Shock, Injustice in Perugia run by Bruce Fisher, Candace Dempsey's blog on Knox, and this site Amanda Knox Appeal Forum, are not part of any 'machine, and no one is getting paid to post in favor of Amanda Knox. In part the above sites were created to counter the misinformation and outright lies that had been spread by certain groups hostile toward Knox and her family. And each one is independent of one another- the only thing we have in common is the belief that Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito are innocent and have been unjustly convicted. That's it, no cash, no machine- just the desire to tell the truth about this case.

Now just recently Barbie Latza Nadeau has written a piece talking about this 'p r machine' and mentioned a 'blacklist' of reporters by the Knox family. She says in referring to the Knox family that they "...won't talk to anyone who does not tow the party line." What she does not say is that this so-called 'party line' is that certain journalists are hostile to Knox and are unbalanced in their reporting of this case. First off, they are entitled to talk to whom they please and why would they want to talk to reporters who have written some pretty nasty and misleading things about their daughter. Barbie did not mention if she herself was on this 'blacklist', but considering some of the things she has written about Knox, I've got a pretty good idea- as do many others.

The simple truth is, that people's reality of this case has changed since Amanda and Raffaele's convictions two years ago. Over time, the truth has come out. People are now aware that some of the things that were taken as the truth in fact have turned out to be lies and speculation. That the prosecution's case - once thought by some to be solid- is in fact a house of cards with no evidence that proves guilt. Thus a great many people have come to realize that this case is one of injustice. It was not the result of some 'p r machine', it was the result of people finally learning the facts, and coming to realize that the prosecution had hoodwinked them. That in fact there is no hard evidence against the accused, yet they have spent the last four years in prison. Now that the truth has emerged, there are a lot of ticked-off people out there, and they want this injustice corrected. Hopefully, a few days from now- it will be.

Amanda Knox Appeal: September 30, 2011 Prosecutor Mignini Makes His Final Attack In Desperation

September 30, 2011 - It was the last stand for the prosecution today and it was a desperate one. Mignini is clearly afraid of losing this appeal and as is usual he was hitting below the belt. Yet whether he knows it or not he was saying the most ridiculous things- and that shows desperation-"Oh yes, blame it all on the poor black guy", he says to the jury. What a thing to say- It was the 'black guy' who killed Meredith Kercher. Yet Mignini is so afraid that Amanda and Raffaele will go free that he uses the 'race card' to try and distort reality. It just goes to show this liar with a vivid, and certainly morbid imagination, will use anything at his disposal to try and save face, now that he is clearly losing this appeal.

Michelle Moore has approached Mignini at the court a couple days ago and shouted at him "You are evil". And that clearly put a scare into Mignini as witnesses said, so he had the police question her and she was led out of the courthouse. She was not arrested however according to police. Michelle- bravo girl- but take it easy- both you and Steve are out of your element over there. So try to keep a low profile, and as they say- Hey, be careful out there. Michelle and her husband Steve are pro-Amanda from the States so..... yes, be careful there.

Getting back to Mignini and his rants today- He said to the jury "Do you know what will happen if you absolve? She will run away abroad and we won't be able to do anything about it." Well why the hell not Mig, you are clearly not a tourist attraction over there, and you have busted all kinds of people on no evidence and have clearly abused your power and position. Now it is time for justice to roll. Thank God that you and your side-kick Comodi are done with your side of things. Now you will just have to wait for the verdict like the rest of us. But I think you know how that will turn out. What really pisses me off about Mignini is that he knows that Rudy Guede is the real killer yet he let him off lightly to get to his fantasy of the Knox and Sollecito involvement. This is really below contempt.

Amanda and Raffaele are due to give statements and then that will be the end of the appeals. The judges and jury will then retire and render their verdict. This is suppose to occur on Monday, but things could change. I have a good feeling about the verdict because I think that judges Hellman and Zanetti are intelligent and fair men, and will do the right thing in the interest of justice. Yet there is still the jury, so we will just have to wait and see, but I do not believe this appeals court will convict with no evidence. I think justice is at hand- finally.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Defense Puts Up A Good Fight In Perugia- It Should Be Enough

September 29, 2011-  Information is slow at this time in Perugia at the Amanda Knox hearing- why? I have no idea. There are probably more first rate reporters in Perugia right now than anywhere. Yet only a trickle of information is coming through.

It is reported that Knox lawyer Dalla Vedova has spoken passionately at this hearing going over certain issues such as the false confession - a product of hostile police. And also that Knox's rights were violated.  And the image of Knox blown way out of proportion by the prosecution.

We will have to wait later in the day to get all the details. In a way there is something disturbing about this appeals trial. It is like a contest of who you believe- almost like who puts on the best show. That should not be what this is about - but it is.

Somewhere the truth has taken a back seat for those of you watching. The truth is- Knox is just a girl from Seattle who got caught up in all of this. And who is to blame? It is the prosecution who has pushed this into farce this far. Four years is a long time- but in prison, four years is much longer. All can argue that oh Amanda is this or that- a she-devil or Jessica Rabbit. Yet the fact remains that there is no evidence against Amanda and Raffaele that proves them guilty of this crime.

And that is the whole point. As this judge- Judge Hellmann has stated you can not convict unless it is beyond a reasonable doubt- that is the law in Italy now. And I think most of the world who knows about this case has a very reasonable doubt. Although both sides are competing against each other- it should be the truth that holds. There is no evidence that proves guilt- it should not be a debate- but such is the way it is done.

We will not know the outcome to this until it is over- all else is speculation as to how the jury sees it. That is the hard part to all of this- how the jury sees it. Let's hope that they can see what has happened here. The injustice that has happened, and give these two young people back their lives.

This is not a plea. Not even a call to justice. At this point in time with all that has been revealed- it is common sense. The prosecution has lied in this case- it is deplorable. The defendants in this case are not monsters but victims of injustice. While everyone would like to place people into a mold for easier classification, Knox is not an angel and nor is she a she-devil or witch- and nor is she Jessica Rabbit- she is just a girl from Seattle who was caught up in the fantasies of a corrupt prosecutor and nailed to the wall. Now- if there is any justice in this Italian nightmare- let's see it. The innocent have suffered enough.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Francesco Maresca Uses Shock Tactics To Counter Reality- No Evidence

September 27, 2011- I was not going to post on Maresca's fiasco in court yesterday but some people have asked why I did not. Simply put, after reading Steve Moore's post on his blog I figured that was enough to suffice- he stated the case well enough. After all Maresca is not the prosecution- he is only a civil lawyer looking to collect money from the Knox family for the Kercher family suit against the murderers of Meredith Kercher. As has been said before- If Amanda and Raffaele walk after this appeals, Maresca stands to lose money- he certainly can not get anything from Rudy Guede- who has not had the chance to sell any dope lately.

The only thing I really want to bring up now is that I agree with a great many people- including Steve Moore and some important journalists- in Italy, US and UK, who were appalled at the display in court yesterday of graphic and disturbing images of Meredith Kercher - photographed as she was found. What was the point of this? It is not Maresca's job to try and prove guilt but yes he does stand to lose a lot of money if Amanda and Raffaele go free- so I guess that was the only motive to do this.

Maresca had said to the jury that it was not his intention to shock but only to show how Meredith had suffered. Does anyone actually believe that? Of course it was to shock and to show how she was brutally murdered and to suggest that Knox and Sollecito are to be hated as this was obviously their doing- But of course there is no evidence to prove any such thing- Yet it does stoke the emotions as he well knows.

This was nothing more than a trial tactic to disgust the jury- in the absence of evidence. It came without warning- suddenly there on a big screen one gory photo after another popped up and no one had a chance to leave as it was not revealed in advance that it was going to take place. Not only Amanda but several people on the jury turned their heads from the images. There was no real point in showing those photos - they were shown before - but it was revealed in advance and the room cleared- This time no one had a choice.

Nothing surprises me anymore about this case- I am sure it has given a great many people insight though. My personal observation is that I think, despite being just a civil lawyer, Maresca should try and find a place with the prosecution- they seem to be cut from the same cloth. Ask yourselves this- how does this display by Maresca honor the memory of Meredith Kercher? To show her like that- only for the sake of a civil lawsuit for money- Pathetic!

Amanda Knox Appeal: September 26, 2011 Amanda Knox Is Abused By Cowardly Lawyers At Appeal

September 26, 2011- Well I finally reached my limit on this appeal. It was absolutely contemptible what occurred today at the appeals trial. Such a cowardly show of force against a young American woman who was not able to defend herself- where even her family was forced to suck up this injustice- staring down and shaking their heads in disbelief. Is this justice?

Knox, surrounded by prison guards at the defendant's table, listening to the garbage fired at her - calling her every name in the book- split personality, satanic, demonic, she devil, liar, deceiver- and on an on like that. And who was that coming from- 'Patrick' Lumumba's lawyer who's name is Carlo Pacelli.

Well now- I am not in Italy- I am an American, born and bred and therefore I am within my rights and within my country to give it back to you. I am not under the law in Italy therefore I can speak the truth. And in this country you have to lie in order to be convicted of slander and, hey, I will not lie.

'Patrick Lumumba has dollar signs in his eyes and so does his lawyer. He has slandered Amanda Knox but is allowed to get away with it because she is in prison and is the accused. Lumumba says he has been so hurt from what Knox accused him of- Bullshit- you have never had this much attention in your life and you are looking for money in a civil suit with your lawyer Pacelli- Who does this guy think he is- to call this defendant all the names that he has, like he knows anything for a fact. The truth is- Amanda is on her own and no one can help her there except these judges and jury. The lawsuit lawyers have never been in the international spotlight before so I guess it looks like a good calling card. You lowlifes.

Understand this people- Lumumba spent 2 weeks in jail, but Amanda was sentenced to a year in prison for that- but still he wants money and fame as does his lawyer. So they get to abuse her even though she has already done that year in prison. And if anyone should pay it should be the Perugia police who forced that out of Amanda. They were looking for a black man due to a hair they found and the message on Amanda's cell phone had a call from Lumumba- a black man. They were really looking for Rudy Guede but they didn't know that yet so Lumumba being black they set their sites on him. So they grilled her over and over illegally and abused her and terrorized her until she gave them what they wanted to hear. I think, under the circumstances that is understandable. The Perugia police terrorized her into it and now she looks like the bad person.

Of course, you can not go against the police in Italy because it's against the law- But in the United States Of America- it is not. In this country if the police abuse you- you have the right to say so. You have the right to defend yourself at your own trial, and if the police are at fault and you say so- you are not held for slander. Now I have said what has been on my mind- brought about through witnessing the abuse of Amanda Knox today. It was a shameful display, and it is killing her I think. I still have faith in the judges and jury of this appeals. Hopefully they can see through all the lies and drama and do the right thing.

 I am sorry for the pain Amanda and her parents have suffered; They have to take it all in silence.  I on the other hand am not in Italy- otherwise some people might be banging on the door as I type this. But as a great many people know who are watching this case closely- they know that when all of this is over, whatever the outcome- there will be a reckoning.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Prosecutor Comodi Tries To Confuse Jury- It's Talc Not Starch On Knife Blade- Wrong

September 25, 2011 - As I have said before- the prosecution is desperate, and it's starting to show to anyone paying attention. Although the prosecution is good at dramatics, they are short on facts- way short. And it is clear that when they are 'up against the wall', they will resort to just about anything. I hope the jury in this case is paying attention- I do know that both judges are up on the facts and no one is going to confuse them- although the prosecution is giving it a good shot.

At Saturday's hearing Manuela Comodi (one of the prosecutors against Knox & Sollecito) tried to brush away the sound thrashing the prosecution took on the DNA 'evidence' as pointed out by the two DNA court appointed experts. In fact she tried to brush away everything, but some of it was just plain ridiculous. Such as pulling out a bra and giving a 'performance' on how Sollecito cut the bra off the victim Meredith Kercher and thus, 'depositing his DNA- BUT- was the jury aware that it was only one possible way among dozens of others- AND, what proof is there that it was Sollecito that did any such thing- there is none, but like I said it was good dramatics.

I think the really pathetic part came when Ms. Comodi attempted to hold to the DNA and trash the court appointed experts. She made a major error when she suggested that they were not qualified and to really 'blow-it' she actually tried to make the jury believe that it was not starch on the knife as court appointed experts testified on the blade but rather, it was the talc from the gloves used by the police. No shame. I actually went up to the State University Of New York to back up what I thought on the starch bit- and sure enough there can be no confusion between talc (which is a soft rock with numerous minerals- usually ground to a white powder) and RYE BREAD STARCH which is a plant (flour and Calcium Propanoate). But- it was a good try- or should I say- bluff. The court appointed experts had said that there was no blood on the blade- no Kercher DNA, but there was the presence of starch- specifically- starch from RYE BREAD- not corn starch- not talc, and there is no confusing one with the other. Hopefully this did not get by anyone at the time. Comodi's performance today was not one based on fact but no doubt performed to confuse the jury. A desperate act- put forth in the absence of facts.

It has become very clear that this prosecution team is more concerned with winning or losing- rather than innocence or guilt. As to the moral fiber of people who would convict innocents for the sake of their careers- I think we all know the answer to that.

A lot of people long ago believed Knox and Sollecito were guilty because they did not understand the magnitude of the lies and misinformation that has gone on in this case. I know that in Italy they have their own way of doing things that we in the U S and U K do not necessarily go along with- Not that one is better than the other- just different. This case has given a great many people an education as to why things happen the way they do- yet that does not make it right or true, particularly with all the lies that have been told concerning this case. So from all over the world, we ask of Italy and particularly from Judge Pratillo Hellmann and Judge Zanetti- For the love of God, do the right thing- and we all know what that is.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Prosecution Still Winging-It With No Case

September 24, 2011 - Friday's hearing in Perugia went about as I expected with no hard facts proving guilt, but instead making a good show out of it- relying on drama rather than evidence. It was the prosecution's day to try and convince judges and jury that Knox and Sollecito are guilty of murder and that the convictions should hold, and given even greater sentences. Personally I thought the tactics used on Friday by the prosecution was contemptible- Mignini and company played every card in the deck yet presented no evidence of guilt- just name-calling, and  speculation which they called "clues".

They said they still supported the DNA which was trashed by the judge's appointed experts, yet, just in case no one believed, they said that "..there was a lot of other things..." that pointed to guilt. Most of what Mignini was saying was speculation and they even brought up the supposed break-in, which is a fantasy without proof. The prosecution also said they still believed that the heroin dealing park bum- was a reliable witness- you remember him- he was the guy who couldn't remember the correct day and admitted he was on heroin at the time. That was the star witness for the prosecution.

Interestingly, Mignini started to trash the media who supports Knox's innocence, with Mignini telling the jury to forget all about what the media says and not be pressured by it. That is almost laughable, as it was Mignini who used the media like pawns on a chessboard and filling them with misinformation in an attempt to ruin Knox's reputation before the first trial. The man has no scruples.

And of course they played the sympathy card in order to distract the jury saying- that when you review this case think about the victim and her family. What does that mean? That the jury should think more about the victim of the crime than the facts of the case, and convict two innocent people of murder as though it will somehow make everything alright? There will be more of this type of thing when the Kercher lawyer Maresca gets the spotlight.

The prosecution even accused the defense of being like the Nazi propaganda minister when referring to all the media attention. Actually that seems much more like Mignini than the defense lawyers- Like I said the man has no scruples. Mignini actually referred in court to Rudy Guede as "the poor black guy'. I must say the prosecution has exceeded my expectations on how low they could go in order to try and win this appeal. Yet considering they have no case in which to establish guilt, I guess they feel they are entitled to wing-it as they see fit.

Both Amanda and Raffaele looked a little stressed, particularly Amanda as for a moment she looked like she had clearly had enough of this fiasco and put her hand to her face and then started rubbing her forehead like she was in pain. Who could blame her- she understands every word of Italian these prosecutors were spitting out like nails in her direction.

Will the jury buy all this smoke and mirrors act- hopefully not- most intelligent people know when they are given a tap dance rather than factual evidence and I don't think the judges are buying any of this- They found out what they wanted to know with the DNA and park bum witness- the rest is just drama.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Is Ann Coulter's Take On the Amanda Knox Case A Stunt Or Is She Simply Wrong Again

September 14, 2011- Ann Coulter is a lawyer, an author, and a political commentator, so you would figure that this woman would be well informed or at least cautious about what she spouts. Anyone who has read Coulter's books and read her commentaries should know that it seems like she could really give a rat's ass about offending anyone- but this time she was way off the map.

Her article of September 7th on the Amanda Knox case was simply unreal- even for her. Not only did she ramble off sheer speculation (because that is what she was quoting), the so-called Motivation report of the first trial which even this current appeals judge does not accept. Calling up things that simply stirred-the-pot, yet has no basis in recent reality. It makes one wonder what does this woman thinks she is doing besides trying to get her name involved in a big international murder case. I really don't know. I do know that she does not play it safe and is known for just speaking her mind- hey, that's fine, but don't you think you should know what you are talking about first- You know, kind of have a grip on the facts before you just start spouting off.

Listen honey- most of the things you have said about Amanda Knox are either speculation from the original trial (which intelligent people do not buy into) or misinformation spread by the prosecutor's office in Perugia. What are you going to do when Amanda is released later this month? Actually, I don't think you really care- one way or another. Political commentaries are one thing- fooling with people's lives is another.

Listen if you haven't got the time to do your own research into this case than I am sure you could hire someone to do it for you. That way you would not look like you do at this point. Was it simply for the publicity, or was it that you just bought into bad information? I really don't know. One thing is for sure- I am sure you remember from law school the definitions of the words: wrongful conviction, malicious prosecution, and most importantly- libel and slander.

Just my opinions of course- how would I know? Just like you.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Should Amanda Be Freed And Go Back To Seattle? Yes!

September 12, 2011-
I see that there is a new angle on the Amanda Knox case- a poll which asks if she should be allowed to go back to Seattle- this no doubt is a reflection on the lack of news while people wait for the verdict. The internet now is very slow on the Knox case. The simple answer to why is because most people now expect her to be released- that's right- no more war, no more debating, no more lies to fool people. This case and public opinion has completely come about- a 180 degree turn. Her detractors have all but disappeared.

Yes I checked- On the most notorious site against Amanda Knox, instead of drumming up fictions and applauding her conviction- now (as I checked) they argue about whether Amanda was wearing a bra or not in court. I was amazed- commenting on her wardrobe and if she was wearing a bra was the recent news on this pathetic site- yes you know who you are. These sites now are all but abandoned with nothing to talk about except foolishness.

Now recently a poll asks if Amanda Knox should be allowed to go free and back to Seattle. Well I think that is going to happen anyway regardless of the outcome of polls. Yet the fact is, no one can tell a free person where she can go and when this is all over-which it will be very soon- no one can libel a person who has been freed. So those who want to continue their rants on guilt should watch their tongues so as not to be sued. Yes I know that is what the Italian prosecutors like to do but when she is free- watch your tongue in the U S. Trash the police if you like here but do not libel the innocent. Laws are still laws.

The sad part of all of this and I mean beyond the false conviction, is that Amanda being the person she is, was so badly hurt by all of this. It was not the 4 years in prison as much as the public opinion against her in the beginning that hurt her. She could not bear to think that people thought her guilty of this crime. That is what bothered her more than anything. She was not perfect of course- who is- but could you or I have done better under the circumstances? I do not think so.  She is unusual yes, but that is what makes her appealing to the press and a target for the prosecution. She is photogenic and seemed an ideal target for the press, but now in a good way because there is nothing against her anymore.

When people look back on this case- what will they see? I do not think Amanda Knox will ever be in question- More like, Why did Mignini get to have his way in this case. Why did Rudy Guede  (the real killer) get off with only 16 years, and can they do anything to increase that?  Why do the Kerchers feel the way they do in spite of all the evidence- (Maresca?).  And is it not possible for the prosecution to just lay down arms in the face of all the facts- yes it is .

Understand this- Prosecutor Comodi did not say that Amanda might go free from any sense of compassion- she said it out of the menality that there was nothing left to win. All that was necessary was that there be a fair judge and jury, and that is what Amanda is getting this time- no mystery- just justice.

Amanda Knox Appeal: Even If Amanda Wins Her Appeal Will She Be Allowed To Leave Italy

September 9, 2011
As I was thinking that Amanda Knox would win her appeal and gain her freedom- it did cross my mind that maybe it would not be that simple- not in Italy- not concerning Amanda Knox. I really do hope this is a needless post, but considering what has happened to Amanda in Perugia Italy and considering who runs the show in that town- I get a really creepy feeling that something may go wrong even if she wins.

Consider for a moment that Amanda Knox wins her appeal. One would think people would be happy and she would take her time leaving and then fly home to Seattle and get on with her life. Right? Maybe. What if- and I hope I am just paranoid about this- the prosecution decides to get a little 'payback' for losing the appeal. Understand this- that once Amanda is outside that appeals court free- what is to stop Mignini and the police from preventing her from leaving Italy. Outside that courtroom Mignini runs the show. He walks around like he is the Duke of Lasagna and no one seems to be able to stop him or is afraid to even try. It's pathetic. Yet it is possible in reality that something else could happen.

You know I would like to blame this all on Candace Dempsey because she is the one who got me thinking. She stated in a blog of her's a couple days ago that the prosecution in Italy can also appeal her not guilty verdict in the appeals and that she should get out of Italy as fast as she can. Damn you Candace- it's all your fault : ) Seriously this was a good heads up on Candace's part and it should not be taken lightly.  That is very true. There is also a slander charge pending against Amanda and they could use that as an excuse to keep her in jail, even though she wins her appeal. And please people- don't tell me I am giving the prosecution ideas- If they are going to do something they already have it planned out.

So- what are the options to protect Amanda when she gets out? Yes, I am assuming that she will win her appeal. One would think of the U S State Dept but they have been pretty worthless so far as this case has gone and all they say is- You are subject to the laws of the country you are in- But they will mail letters to your family- that's nice.

In all honesty I really would be amazed if Mignini and company would actually dual with Amanda again but I know it is possible- Hey, these people do not like to lose and this is the most important case on an international scale they will ever deal with- and they lost? I do not trust these people.

The only person I trust in this case is Judge Pratillo Hellmann, but what can he do outside his courtroom. Hopefully he can protect Amanda after she is acquitted. This I do not know. I am not up on the separation of powers in Italy. If he can protect her- I hope that he does and sees that she leaves Italy safely.

To Amanda's family I say- get her the hell out of there as quickly as possible- It's no joke. Who can trust these prosecutors and the Perugia police- Sorry but considering what has happened- who would? Make plans ahead of time and get out of there- just in case.

Well, I  would rather be called paranoid then have Amanda back in jail on some coup by the prosecution. Better safe than sorry. Who can dispute that considering all that has happened.  This nightmare will be over when Amanda wins her appeal and is back home in Seattle safe. It's not my fault that I had to bring this up- Candace did it- but she was right.