Amanda Knox, the American student convicted of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia, Italy, continues to be a lightening rod for the news wire.
Today, Ms. Knox was indicted for slander as a result of her claims that the Italian police hit her on the back of the head during questioning. In court she broke into tears, stating that she simply thought she was describing what had happened as part of her right to defend herself. She will now go to trial for this new charge in May 2011. Ms. Knox’s appeal of the murder conviction is scheduled to begin on November 24th, 2010.
The Knox family recently allowed the release of some images of Amanda’s prison artwork. British tabloids have claimed that her art indicates a “dark side” to Ms. Knox, prompting a swift response from her family’s PR team. Here is a report:
I recently wrote about Steve Moore, the ex-FBI agent who was interviewed by several media outlets about his insistence that Ms. Knox is innocent. Mr. Moore was recently fired by his employer, Pepperdine University, allegedly for refusing to sign a document agreeing to not speak publicly about the Knox/Kercher case. I understand that Mr. Moore is pursuing legal action.
Finally, let us not forget Meredith Kercher. She was a study abroad student (as well as daughter, sister) from Leeds University in England who came to Italy to study Italian language. The city of Perugia and the University for Foreigners announced this past week that a scholarship will be set up in her name. Mayor Wladimiro Boccali announced that ”Meredith Kercher was here, our guest, to study and we want to remember her as a young student. I think Meredith should be considered one of us and, as such, she should find a place in the city’s shared memory, with a thought also for her devastated family. Perugia wants a tangible sign to remain from her coming here,” he added in announcing the new scholarship.
I will repeat again that it is not my position as an international educator, to share my personal opinion about whether or not Ms. Knox is guilty or not. I report on this case because both Ms. Knox and Ms. Kercher were study abroad students.
Great report!
PERJURY, WITH-HOLDING EVIDENCE: SOON AFTER THE MURDER, NOV 1, 2007, THE AUTHORITIES STARTED TALKING ABOUT BLOODY FOOTPRINTS COMPATIBLE WITH AMANDA’S AND RAFFAELE’S FEET. THIS BABBLE CONTINUED AND WAS PRESENTED TO THE MEDIA AND THE JURY UNTIL JULY 2009 WHEN WE LEARN THERE WERE NEVER BLOODY FOOTPRINTS ANYWHERE IN THE APARTMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE PRINT ON A BATH MAT WHICH WAS OF SUCH LOW QUALITY IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY WHO’S FOOT MADE THE PRINT. IN MY OPINION THE AUTHORITIES WERE AWARE OF THE TEST THAT PROVED THE FOOTPRINTS WERE NOT BLOOD BUT WITH-HELD THE EVIDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC, THE DEFENSE AND THE JURY. HOW COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THEY DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE LYING TO EVERYONE? AMANDA AND RAFFAELE SHOULD BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY.
(page 64 hearing Sept. 26, 2009). “Dr. Stefanoni confirmed that to prove that blood is present, you have to test for it. Dr. Stefanoni claimed that no testing was done.
In July 2009 the test records revealed otherwise. The Luminol findings were tested using tetramethylbenzidine, and the tests were negative for all tracks. The Luminol findings tested negative for blood.”
NOTE: Massei report: All the alleged foot prints in the apartment, which were found in the listed rooms, were tested for the presence of blood using ‘tetramethylbenzidine’, and all the alleged foot prints tested negative for blood, leaving only one possible bloody foot print in the entire apartment, which is the one on the bath mat that was in the bathroom:
1) Romanelli’s room
2) Knox’s room
3) corridor
Massei rep page 256-257: With respect to the Luminol-positive traces found in Romanelli’s room, in Knox’s room and in the corridor, she [Dr Stefanoni] stated that by analysing the SAL cards “we learn, in contradiction to what was presented in the technical report deposited by the Scientific Police, and also to what was said in Court, that not only was the Luminol test performed on these traces, but also the generic diagnosis for the presence of blood, using tetramethylbenzidine, and this test, gave a negative result on all the items of evidence from which it was possible to obtain a genetic profile” (page 64 hearing Sept. 26, 2009).
They are guilty and they will not be freed before their setences have been served. The convictions will be upheld.
RIP Meredith Kercher
I had a question; Did ms. Kercher was in the drug party too?