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» Two words: Book deal. Ananda Knox’s freedom wasn’t cheap, but it was a financial burden Knox was willing to pay. Her family had to foot most of the bill: Her parents both had to get second mortgages and dip into their retirement savings; her grandmother had to get a $250,000 loan. Fortunately for Knox, her story will prove to be very valuable to publishers. Sources say that she already started working on a memoir while in prison.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Oct 2011 17:25

Amanda Knox acquitted: The climactic trial of the moment came to a conclusion today, as an Italian court acquitted Amanda Knox of murder. The judge did uphold a slander conviction over Knox’s claim that a bar owner committed the crime, but that sentence is already covered by her time served; she’s been imprisoned since 2007. It’s reported that some members of the jury, as well as some journalists in the room were moved to tears by Knox’s declarations of innocence, which sounds like a pretty bad time to a be a prosecutor. Knox is now free to head back home to her native Seattle, where a large contingent of supporters are expected to greet her. (Photo by Pier Paolo Cito/AP) source

Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

I’ve lost a friend in the worst, most brutal, most inexplicable way possible. I’m paying with my life for things that I didn’t do.
Amanda Knox • Speaking during her murder trial on the death of Meredith Kercher, who she spoke of endearingly during her speech this morning. This was Knox’s last chance to prove her innocence before a decision is made at the retrial of the century. Knox’s words were compelling and even brought tears to the eyes of some of the journalists in the courtroom. Example: “She had her bedroom next to mine, she was killed in our own apartment. If I had been there that night, I would be dead,” she said. “But I was not there.” The trial has been a bit of a three-ring circus, but this final act could prove more high-flying than anything else. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Where does the victim fall into this whole mess? With a verdict in the Amanda Knox trial coming on Monday, we’d like to express our frustration with this case. The entire case — on both sides — seems more obsessed with creating attention for itself, rather than finding any true sense of justice for the victim, Meredith Kercher. With prosecutors seemingly obsessed with ratcheting up the heat on Knox (they asked that she and suspect Raffaele Sollecito receive life sentences, despite the fact their sentences were far less than that the first time around), rather than focused on the facts of the case, it’s likely justice has not been served. Even Knox’s own family has had to put up a giant PR campaign around her, which almost feels like necessity given the insane press coverage around the case. The media coverage feels particularly weird and invasive. The result? Whatever happens Monday will not be justice — it’ll be a bastardization of the word. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

DNA on two key pieces of evidence no longer link her to the attack that turned her life upside down. DNA evidence on the suggested murder weapon and a bra strap was not a positive match with any of the suspects, according to independent DNA experts. Furthermore, the experts suggest that investigators broke numerous protocols when gathering the evidence — putting it in paper bags instead of plastic, and wiping down evidence as they gathered it, doing the opposite of the protocol the experts described. This is a major victory for Knox, who was jailed on that seemingly-faulty evidence. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink