Amanda Knox is free!

[redfox]

My niece lives in Rome, working for the University of Washington, and has been texting me all morning (evening in Rome). We live in Seattle, and have been holding our collective breath for four long years. I am very very glad she's finally been acquitted. This has been a bit too close to home.

[Mrs-M]

I'm familiar with the case, however have not followed it close enough to know one way or the other.

[CathyA]

What a relief. Its pretty scary how much this case was botched. Just don't get in trouble in Italy!

[JaneV2.0]

The prosecutor is a megalomaniac. Just ask Douglas Preston, an American writer who had to flee Italy to avoid being another railroadee at Mignini's hands some years ago. If I were Raffaele Sollecito, I'd leave the country pronto, as the prosecution can appeal.

[CathyA]

I agree. I think the prosecutor is crazy. I just heard on the news this morning that he plans on another appeal. If he does, then Ms. Knox would be expected to return. But supposedly, even though the U.S. has an extradition treaty with Italy, if the U.S. feels that its an unsubstantiated offense, we don't have to send her back. I can't imagine the U.S. feeling that the accusations were ever proven. No way on earth would I ever let my child go back there for a retrial! It makes me very nervous for the justice system in Italy.
My DD spent about 6 weeks in Italy this past summer and I kept telling her "Don't do anything wrong!!".

[IshbelRobertson]

I still have deep reservations about her involvement in the murder of Ms Kercher.

I have a close friend who knows that poor girl's family, although I do not know them at all. They had a bright, lovely daughter, who worked hard at her studies. She will never be replaced.

I've been out of the country (UK) for just over a week, but as reported on Greek news, it seems evenly split into those who believe she was guilty and American pressure changed the result - and those who believe that a miscarriage of justice occurred and she should never have been jailed.

[CathyA]

Too bad the case was (supposedly) handled so poorly. One thing that bothered me a little was Amanda's demeanor from the start. But I'm learning that not everyone falls apart, screaming, crying, throwing themselves on the floor, like I might in that situation. ;)
Hopefully justice was served.

[redfox]

I still have deep reservations about her involvement in the murder of Ms Kercher.

I have a close friend who knows that poor girl's family, although I do not know them at all. They had a bright, lovely daughter, who worked hard at her studies. She will never be replaced.

I've been out of the country (UK) for just over a week, but as reported on Greek news, it seems evenly split into those who believe she was guilty and American pressure changed the result - and those who believe that a miscarriage of justice occurred and she should never have been jailed.

I cannot imagine a family gaining solace through a wrongful conviction. They have gone through he//, first by losing their daughter, secondly, by a botched trial and wrongful convictions. They have been as ill served as have Ms. Knox and Mr. Sollecito.

Here is an interesting article in a British paper about Ms. Knox.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/08/amanda-knox-facial-expressions?INTCMP=SRCH

[CathyA]

The info in that link was just as I was thinking. When I first saw pics of Amanda and her boyfriend, they seemed so cold and arrogant. But I sure wouldn't assume someone was guilty, just from that. And Like I said, she was so stoic during the trial (as was Casey Anthony???), that its easy to make incorrect assumptions about guilt or innocence.
And I think the victim's family was so desperate to have someone to blame that they were accepting whatever the Italian justice system was telling them. Yes, it was awful for everyone concerned.
Its horrible that "justice" can be so manipulated.

[Aqua Blue]

I also think a picture can be very miss leading. Perhaps the media caught her at just the right moment to make her look cold and arrogant. I think there is a lot of munipulation by the media to slant something their way. JMHO