Category: Summing-ups

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Summations: The Prosecutions’ Reconstruction Of The Events On The Night

Posted by Peter Quennell

[Above: Where they waited and watched? View from Piazza Grimana of gate area of Meredith’s house]

This time-line for the evening of 1 November 1 2007 was presented by the prosecutors in court on Friday afternoon.

It was accompanied by a very graphic computer simulation of all the events described except for the arrival of Rudy Guede, the timing of which is unknown but seems to have been late - maybe around 11:30 pm.

This account seems to be of a premeditated attack on Meredith, in which Knox and Sollecito may have watched Meredith’s house from this position above in the park for an hour and a half before they even entered the house.

Meredith was inside the whole time.

We have left out the depiction of the final struggle with Meredith, which is extremely sad and disturbing. In the evidence phase this was testified-to behind closed doors at her family’s request and we have never posted anything from those sessions.

However, it is made clear that Meredith put up a tremendous fight over a period of 15 minutes with three strong attackers, before she finally succumbed.

15:48: Meredith texts to her English friends that she will be slightly late for her dinner meeting with them. 16:00 - Meredith leaves the house in Via della Pergola to go to the home of her friends. A few minutes later Raffaele and Amanda leave the cottage in Via della Pergola to go Sollecito’s place. 18:00 - Amanda Knox leaves Raffaele Sollecito’s house. This is indicated by cell phone records. 18:27 - Raffaele Sollecito interacts with his laptop to watch the film “Amelie” alone at home. 20:18 - Amanda Knox in Via Ulisse Rocchi receives a text message (sms) from Patrick Lumumba telling her not to come to work that night. 20.30 - Amanda Knox goes back to Via Garibaldi to the apartment of Raffaele Sollecito. 20:38 - Amanda sends a text message (sms) in reply to Patrick Lumumba. 20:46 - Sollecito turns off his mobile phone. He is still at home in Via Garibaldi. 20:45 – Meredith’s meal of pizza with her English friends ends. She starts off in the direction of Via della Pergola with a girlfriend who will leave her halfway to go to her own home. 21:00 - Meredith is at home, she eats a mushroom, she lies down on her bed, and she reads some university lecture notes. 21:10 - From this point on there is no more human interaction with Raffaele Sollecito’s computer. 21:45 - Amanda and Raffaele leave his apartment and go to the Piazza Grimana. Less than 100 meters away from the house in Via della Pergola, the two talk and watch the house and decide what to do. They show a suspicious attitude which is reported in court by the witness Curatolo 23:20 - Amanda opens the door of Via della Pergola. 23.20 - Amanda, Raffaele and Rudy enter the house in Via della Pergola, where Meredith is already present in her room [On the court video there is no simulation of the meeting between Amanda and Rudy, because the reconstruction is based on testimony, the autopsy evidence and medical findings.] 23:21 - Amanda and Raffaele go into Meredith’s bedroom, while Rudy goes into the bathroom. 23:25 - A scuffle begins between Amanda, helped by Raffaele, and Meredith. The English girl is taken by the neck, then banged against a cupboard. Rudy Guede enters and joins in. 23:30 - 23:45 Depiction in the timeline and computer simulation of a horrific struggle with Meredith 23:50 - Amanda and Raffaele take Meredith’s mobile phones and they leave the apartment. Guede goes into the bathroom to get several towels to staunch the blood, then puts a cushion under Meredith’s head. 00.10 - Meredith’s mobile phones are thrown into a garden in Via Sperandio. 00.15 - From this moment, there are no certainties on the times for the rearrangement of the crime scene carried out by Amanda and Raffaele Sollecito.

 

However according to the prosecution in the wee hours of the night Knox and Sollecito returned to the scene of their crime to try and clean up some footprints and to break the window glass of Filomena’s room. The aim was to simulate a robbery that ended in murder and they are charged with this too.

The translation here, by Tiziano and our other Italian-speakers, is from Il Messagero and other Italian newspapers.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Summations: Barbie Nadeau On Mr Mignini Setting Out The Attack Scenario

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for Rome-based Barbie Nadeau’s report from the courtroom. Her excellent description includes this sad passage on Meredith.

Then he described Kercher as a woman full of life and potential, “the young woman we too often forget.” Mignini quoted Kercher’s father John on a number of occasions, especially when explaining that she was a strong woman who practiced karate and who would have fought back against an attack.

The courtroom was silent as he recalled the words of Kercher’s father: “Meredith would have fought with all her life.”

The report also includes this on possible hard drugs.

He also hinted that Knox and Sollecito might have been in a drug-fueled frenzy when they allegedly killed Kercher. He outlined the effects of cocaine and acid, and told the judges and jury how Knox and Sollecito ran with a crowd that often used these “stupificante,” or stupefying drugs.

Drugs were not proven other than that both Knox and Sollecito claimed to have smoked marijuana on the day. The two drugs mainly hypothesized up to now if there was a drug other than unmodified marijuana (cannabis) seem to have been crystal meth and skunk cannabis.

Both of them are now proving a cause of psychotic episodes which can result in fatal attacks. Genetically-engineered skunk cannabis seems to increasingly be most of the cannabis on the market.

The Summations: The Italian Press Is Now Reporting Life Sentences Are Requested

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for Romana Oggi’s report in Italian. A translation:

Prosecutors Manuela Comodi and Giuliano Mignini at the end of their indictment before the Court of Assizes of Perugia requested a life sentence for Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, the two former lovers accused of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

The prosecution also asked for a period in isolation for Amanda Knox during the day for 9 months, and a period in isolation for Raffaele Sollecito during the day for 2 months.

The two defendants remained impassive to the request.

“This was a murder accompanied by sexual violence which was done for petty reasons against a girl 22 years old who was soon due to return to London for the birthday of her mother’’ Prosecutor Mignini said at the end of the indictment.

After he concluded, Amanda Knox stood up to make a brief statement spontaneously. “Meredith was my friend, and I did not hate her. The idea that I wanted revenge on a person who was always kind to me is absurd.”
“I never had any acquaintance or relationship with Rudy Guede. The things that were said in the past two days are pure fantasy. It is not the truth and not the reality of the situation.”

Meredith’s mother was far from well at the time, which was why Meredith was carrying two mobile phones (the two removed while she lay dying, presumably so she could not call for help) to be quite sure they could reach one another.

Meredith had been planning the trip home to London for weeks and was excited about it. It would have been her first trip home to see her family since she arrived in Perugia.

In June Meredith’s father John Kercher described how he found out Meredith would never come home. 

The Summations: Manuela Comodi Continues The Prosecution’s Very Hard Line

Posted by Tiziano

Wow! This summation is quite remorseless.

Both prosecutors seem to have very deep feelings for Meredith, and much contempt for those who have tried so hard to deny her justice.

And they both seem very, very sure of their case - always remember that the judges and jury have seen a LOT of evidence in those 10,000-plus sealed pages and those many closed court sessions that we the public were not party to.

La Nazione reports now some more of Ms Comodi’s summing-up this morning. She was neatly tying the many elements together, and denying that anything at all is weak. . 

PM Comodi: “The DNA was not contaminated”

The Magistrate opened her summing-up declaring that the proof which has emerged from the investigations is “irrefutable and overwhelming”. Speaking this morning was PM Manuela Comodi who began her summing-up by declaring that the proof emerging from the investigations was “irrefutable and overwhelming”. 

The magistrate underlined that no right of the defence had been harmed,  “The only right offended – Comodi said - was that of the scientific police and the postal police to see their work recognised.”

The PM defined the possibility of contamination of the DNA removed from the scene of the murder as “nil. 

“In every biological analysis – she added – the risk of deterioration and contamination is inherent.  Patrizia Stefanoni, the biologist of the scientific police has however put in action all the due procedures to avoid these phenomena and nobody can affirm the contrary.  The consultants for the parties then took part in all the inspections and analyses.”

The Summations: First Report On Technical Summing-Up By Prosecutor Comodi

Posted by Tiziano

[Prosecutor Comodi this morning at left with defense lawyers Della Vedova and Maori]

Corriere is reporting the start of the summation by Manuela Commodi of the technical aspects of the case. A translation:

Meredith Trial, the PM speaks: “Irrefutable proof from the investigations”

It was Assistant Prosecutor Manuela Comodi to take the floor and she dealt with the scientific aspects of the investigation.

Manuela Comodi started her summing-up this morning by underlining that the rights of the defence had not been damaged….

“Irrefutable and overwhelming scientific proof” is what has emerged from the investigations. PM Manuela Comodi started her address in this way, stressing that no rights of the defence had been injured. 

“The only right which has been offended” Comodi said “was that of the scientific police and the postal police to see their work recognised.” 

Then the PM began to speak about the data relative to the telephone cells examined during the investigation. 

[Next] it will be the turn of PM Mignini to speak again to make the request for the sentencing.

The Summations: AP’s Marta Falconi Is Reporting Life-In-Prison Request Is Expected

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for Marta’s report as carried in today’s Guardian. Some excerpts:

Prosecutors on Saturday were expected to request life in prison for an American student and her former boyfriend accused of killing a young British woman in Italy….

In her closing remarks Saturday, prosecutor Manuela Comodi said evidence presented during the trial had shown that the defendants’ cell phones were switched off the night of the crime, making their whereabouts impossible to trace.

Comodi also recalled testimony by expert witnesses who said Sollecito’s computer had not been used during the hours Kercher was stabbed to death.

Prosecutors were expected to make the sentencing requests later Saturday. A verdict is expected in early December.

Friday, November 20, 2009

WHY Did She Have To Go Like That? Our Saddest Day In Two Years

Posted by The Posters

We praise the fire and anger that Giuliano Mignini showed in court on Meredith’s behalf.

This much maligned but really very caring and compassionate man really went to town today, for someone he clearly sees as a quite extraordinary girl.

Like all of us, her never met her. But like all of us, he loves what she stood for.

The Summations: Additional Detail In Today’s Wrap-Up Report By Andrea Vogt

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for the full report by Italy-based Andrea Vogt.

Meredith Kercher’s homicide carries the distinct signature of a woman, Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini argued in fiery closing arguments here Friday, and that woman is Seattle native Amanda Knox.

“It is Amanda who started the fight , which triggered an unstoppable crescendo of violence, and it is Amanda who plunged the knife into Meredith’s neck,” Mignini said. “It is Amanda who later covers the body with a blanket—a form of pietas, of respect for the victim. An unknown male would not have any need to cover the body. As a woman, and friend, she couldn’t stand to see that nude, battered body that she was responsible for.”

On Friday, Mignini argued that Knox initiated a scuffle that degenerated into a beating, sexual assault and eventual stabbing, went on to alter the crime scene to create a clumsily staged burglary and rape, then fell into a self-made trap of inconsistencies and fibs.

“The first accusers of Amanda and Raffaele were they themselves,” he said.

But despite frequent references to all three suspects, Mignini clearly painted Knox as the mastermind of the crime, an aggressive young woman who harbored hate for her goody-two shoes English roommate, and exerted powerful influence over the other two male suspects, who were infatuated with her…

The Summations: Perenially Fact-Challenged CNN Reports On Today Correctly

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for CNN’s report by Hada Messia.

CNN of course broadcast the notorious Larry King interview with lawyer John Q Kelly and the equally notorious legal screaming-match chaired by Jane Velez Mitchell. The YouTubes of both have been quietly disappeared. And all of its online reports on the case seem to contain bias and errors.

CNN gas been periodically updating this report of Hada Messia for some days, though it still contains wrong statements. The brief new component on today’s proceedings is in fact relatively accurate.

Accompanied by two smitten young men vying to impress her, a resentful Amanda Knox toyed with a knife and then plunged it into her roommate’s neck, killing her, an Italian prosecutor charged in closing arguments Friday.

The November 2, 2007, death of British student Meredith Kercher occurred during a twisted sex game in which Knox taunted Kercher, and the two men—boyfriend Rafael Sollecito and acquaintance Rudy Guede—sexually assaulted her, prosecutor Guilano Mignini said during his seven-hour closing.

The prosecutor said Knox hated and resented Kercher and had decided the time had come to exact revenge….  Mignini said Kercher died about 11:30 p.m. after she and Knox had quarreled—either over money or Guede’s presence at the house.

The prosecutor said the men pinned Kercher down by her arms while Knox played with the knife, prodding at her throat and saying, “Ah, you were pretending to be such a little saint. ... Now we are going to show you.”

Francesco Maresca, a lawyer for the Kercher family, said he was “very satisfied” with the prosecutor’s argument, adding that the crimes should bring a life sentence.

The Summations: Late Edition La Stampa Reported More On Prosecutor Mignini

Posted by Tiziano

Please click above for the report in Italian. A partial translation:

The PM: “Amanda nursed her hatred of Meredith for a long time”

On the evening of November 1st, 2007 the moment had arrived for Knox “to avenge herself on that simpering girl” of a Meredith Kercher with whom she had been living for a few months but whom she considered “too serious and restrained”. So the young woman from Seattle killed her, together with her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Guede “in an uncontrolled crescendo of violence”, which was also sexual.

This is the picture outlined by PM Giuliano Mignini in his summing-up in the trial of the student from Seattle and the young man from Puglia before the court of the Assizes of Perugia. The magistrate who has coordinated the police investigations from the outset spoke for more than seven hours.

He reconstructed in detail the the investigation conducted by the Perugia flying squad, the SCO and the scientific branch. He listed the names of the witnesses and the circumstances to which they referred. He spoke of a “media trial in which the central nodes vanished” (of the case actually conducted in court), and how the investigation received “voluminous and constant confirmation” of the indications of guilt, from the GIP up to the Court of Cassation….

According to the reconstruction of the PM, on the evening of November 1st Knox had an appointment with Guede, whom she knew and who had fallen for her, about matters linked to marijuana which both of them used. With him - the PM explained - she was to go to the house in Via della Pergola but then Sollecito joined them. Kercher was in the house.

“We do not know for certain - Mignini said - what they were intending to do at the residence, but it is possible that there was an argument, which then degenerated, between Mez and Amanda about the missing money, or perhaps the English student was annoyed by the presence of Guede. Knox, Sollecito and Guede, under the influence of drugs and perhaps alcohol, decide however to put in motion the plan to involve Mez in a heavy sexual game.

Amanda had nursed a hatred for Meredith and the moment has come to avenge herself on that “prissy girl”.” Too “serious and restrained for her tastes” - this is the reconstruction of the prosecution - and who accused her of “lack of neatness and cleanliness”.

This attack happens in the victim’s bedroom and was started by Knox and Sollecito while Guede is in the bathroom.

According to the PM the Ivorian arrived a little later and took part in “an uncontrollable and unstoppable crescendo of violence and sexual play”, in which the English girl did not want to participate, while he (Guede) was “convinced that in this way he would please Amanda because now the two fellows were in competition for the favours of the girl from Seattle”.

In the PM’s reconstruction it was Knox who pushed Meredith towards the wall of the room and who struck her in the kneck with a knife (while Sollecito was holding another one). The young man from Puglia is accused however of having held the victim still, but also of tearing off the fastening of her bra, and Guede is accused of sexually abusing the victim. The magistrate decribed them as “three unrestrained furies”.

 

The Summations: Defendant Leaves Court As Prosecutor Proposes What Meredith Was Subjected To

Posted by Peter Quennell

Click above for the full report in the Sun, once again by Nick Pisa.

Please be warned that this below is very difficult and intensely sad reading. It seems to build upon some expert testimony that was only presented behind closed doors

Murder suspect Amanda Knox broke down in tears as the case against her was summed up today.

The American student was led from the courtroom after prosecutors outlined the horrific violence British student Meredith Kercher suffered before her death.

They claimed blonde Knox, 22, known as Foxy Knoxy, “harboured hatred” for housemate Meredith - and “killed her to take revenge”.

Meredith, 21, was “too serious” for Knox, it was claimed.

When Knox returned to the courtroom in Perugia, Italy, today, she appeared shaken and her eyes puffy…

Summing up the prosecution case, Giuliano Mignini said: “Knox and Sollecito arrived at the house with Guede. Meredith was already there and the evening began to degenerate.

“Meredith and Amanda began to argue over money. Meredith was also upset that Amanda had brought another man (Guede) back to the house they shared.

“They argued about this ugly habit of hers, and the three who had arrived were also under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Mr Mignini added: “Meredith was far too serious a girl for Amanda, she didn’t like her or her friends because they were critical of her hygiene and habits.

“Amanda harboured hatred for Meredith and that night the time had come for her to take revenge - and that’s when Meredith’s ordeal began.”....

Mr Mignini outlined the horrific violence Meredith suffered before she died.

He said: “Amanda grabbed her by the hair and hit her head on the floor. Rudy finished what he did (sex) and Sollecito was threatening her with his knife.

“Amanda also had a knife and held it to the left side of Meredith’s throat and as the crescendo of violence grew inflicted the deepest cut.

“Meredith did not want to submit herself to the sexual violence.”

As he spoke Knox appeared to be in discomfort and took several deep breaths.

Her lawyer Luciano Ghirga held her hand reassuringly and squeezed it several times, while a female prison guard behind her stooped down and asked twice if she was ok.

Minutes later Mr Mignini’s closing speech was interrupted as Knox had to be led out to compose herself.

The court heard how Knox “dominated” her relationship with Sollecito, who in turn was “dependent on her”.

Mr Mignini claimed video footage of the couple showed computer studies graduate Sollecito “following on behind her, often kissing and cuddling her”.

The Summations: More On How The Prosecution Launched Forth - And On Possible Motive

Posted by Tiziano

[Above: The two prosecutors today - click for larger image]

The TGCOM news service quoted this statement on the theory of the motive.

“Amanda Knox harbored hatred for Meredith… and so it was time for revenge rather than flirting….” According to the prosecutor Amanda wanted revenge on “that girl who was only with her English friends, and who reproached [Amanda] for her lack of cleanliness.” Thus was set under way “the calvary of Meredith.”

And this report from Umbria Journal adds details to the description posted below from Il Mattino

PM Giuliano Mignini spoke of a “unique event” of a trial which has “involved three continents”, opening his summing-up address in the trial of Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox.

“A media trial in which the elements which emerged in court largely vanished,” the magistrate affirmed. “Detectives in search of notoriety, writers, bloggers, and mystery writers alternated with one another in a sort of parallel trial. But the trial is taking place only in this court room.”

Rudy Guede has been the “convitato di pietra” [literally, silent guest] in the trial of RF and AK according to Mignini. “In a way he has always been present,” the magistrate said referring to the Ivorian, already condemned to 30 years in prison by fast-track trial for complicity in the murder of Meredith Kercher with the two young people.

“Supporters of Sollecito and Knox” Mignini stressed “don’t stop at proclaiming their innocence, but they accuse him [Guede] too. They say that they were not at the crime house, but they also say the assassin is Guede. The accused wanted to create a parallel trial without his being able to defend himself.”

The PM then claimed that the breaking of a window in the bedroom of one of the Italian housemates of Knox and Meredith Kercher carried out according to the prosecution to mislead the investigations “is the special key to the event and the mystery. If it was simulated, as is evident, the authors are Knox, and Sollecito who always followed her. And the objective was to turn away suspicion.” The magistrate defined the break-in as “the nail on which the defences of the accused are hanging.”

“A nail” he averred “which has fallen down noisily and with it the the defences.” For Mignini the theft was simulated “from the inside, by someone who wanted to turn away suspicions and maybe direct them towards Rudy.”

Amanda Knox “knowingly accused an innocent man”... The reference is to Patrick Lumumba who, however, he did not expressly name, involved in the investigations of the murder of Meredith Kercher through the statements to the police of the young American and then absolved of any wrong-doing (he has actually nominated as a civil complainant against the American who is accused of defamation against him).

“Amanda” the [prosecutor] stressed “did not lift a finger while he was languishing in prison. Neither she nor her mother who was in her confidence. And what a coincidence” Mignini continued “it was a matter of a coloured person like Rudy”

 

The Summations: Nick Pisa In Daily Mail Has A Late-Morning Report

Posted by Peter Quennell

Please click above for Nick Pisa’s full story. Two key claims made by the prosecution:

Murder suspect Amanda Knox was described as ‘dominant’ in her relationship with co-accused Raffaele Sollecito today, as prosecutors began summing up in the case against them.

Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini said Knox ‘dominated’ her relationship with Sollecito who in turn was ‘dependent on her’. He said this was evident in TV footage from the time of the murder, where Sollecito was ‘following on behind her, often kissing and cuddling her.’

Prosecutor Mignini added: ‘The key to this mystery is in the room where the supposed break-in took place’. Mignini added: ‘This break-in is the nail of Knox and Sollecito’s defence, but it was all simulated.  ‘It would have been manna from heaven for them if blood or other genetic evidence had been found on the broken glass or window frame but nothing was found.”

“This hypothetical thief then did something quite remarkable - he didn’t take anything of value. No jewellery was missing, computers were left at the scene as well as designer bangs and clothes. A “very strange break-in” was in fact how the first police officer who arrived at the house described it - they could not believe that nothing of value was taken.”

Prosecutor Mignini also pointed out how fragments of glass had been found on top of clothes scattered on the bedroom floor which was also unusual for a break-in, especially if the wardrobe had been ransacked after the window was broken.

He added that it was also virtually impossible to climb to the bedroom window of Filomena Romanelli and that it was also the most exposed as it was visible to the road and passing traffic…

The Summations: The Lead Judge And Two Defendants In The Court This Morning

Posted by Peter Quennell

[click for larger images]

[Image below: Amanda Knox is comforted by her lawyer Maria Del Grosso]

The Summations: The Prosecution Starts To Lay Out The Elements Of Their Case

Posted by Peter Quennell

[Above: Prosecutor Comodi. Below: Prosecutor Mignini.]

The prosecution will take at least two days to complete their summation of their case, drawing all of the threads together.

We have been warned by court watchers to expect at least some surprises. The first seems to be that the prosecution starts off where Amanda Knox seems to be especially vulnerable - her false charge against Patrick Lumumba.

Even if the murder verdict against Amanda Knox early in December becomes “not guilty” she might still face a conviction and sentence just for this.

This first report is from Il Mattino with translation by our poster Tiziano.  .

Amanda Knox “knowingly accused an innocent person”:  Thus said PM Giulian Mignini in his summing- up address under way before the Court of the Assizes of Perugia. 

The reference is to Patrick Lumumba , whom he did not nominate specifically, who was involved in the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher through the statements made to the police by the young American accused of defamation against him, and who was absolved of any wrong-doing (and has in fact now nominated as a civil complainant against her).

“Amanda” the magistrate underlines “did not lift a finger while he was languishing in prison. Neither she nor her mother who was in her confidence.  And what a coincidence” Mignini continued “it was a matter of a coloured person like Rudy Guede.” 

“It is time to draw together the threads of this long debate, an event which is unique of its kind in the panorama of Italian and world justice, which has involved three continents.” Thus spoke the PM, Giuliano Mignini, in his address in the trial for the murder of Meredith Kercher, which sees accused Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.

“A straight and sure route for the trial.  The attacks which have accompanied this trial and the continual attempts to delegitimise the police working on it, who however carried out their duties with professionalism, and also their dealings with the court, cannot be passed over in silence,” Mignini stressed. 

Attacks made by persons in Italy and overseas, lawyers not possessing any mandate, detectives looking for notoriety, writers, mystery writers, bloggers who gave themselves the right to undertake a sort of parallel trial, all bound together by lack of accuracy and superficiality.  But the trial is being held only in this court room.”

The Summations: A Summary Of The Agenda For The Next Few Days

Posted by Tiziano

[Above: A shot of the courtroom taken this morning]

A translation of the trial agenda from Giornale Online Di Perugia

LAST LINES IN THE TRIAL OF AMANDA AND RAFFAELE. ON SATURDAY SENTENCING REQUESTS.

Maurizio Troccoli November 19th, 2009 15.33

Just one day after the request for a confirmation of the penalty of 30 years against Rudy Hermann Guede, drafted by the Prosecutor General, in the Appeal Court of the Assizes, it’s over to the other first-stage trial against Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox, still in the Assizes and for the same murder, accused of being the killers of Meredith.

[Today] is the day of PM Giuliano Mignini and PM Manuela Comodi’s summing-up, which will go back over the whole investigation into the murder of the English student. The hearing on Saturday has also been reserved for the magistrates when they will formulate their requests for the verdict.

The PMs will delineate the framework of the investigations carried out by the flying squad of Perugia, by the SCO [Servizio Centrale Operativo of the State Police], and by the scientific police after the crime which took place on the night between November 1st and 2nd, 2007. The witness statements and the scientific evidence against the the two young people, on trial since January 16th of this year, will be summarised for the college, chaired by Giancarlo Massei, with deputy Beatrice Cristiani, supported by six civil judges.

For the first time they will hear the request for a sentence. The PMs will have to ask the judges for the number of years they believe that the two will have to serve. Then it will be the turn of the defence lawyers to play the last cards to try and dismantle the accusatorial theorem of the PMs.

Sollecito, 25 years old from Giovinazzo, and Knox, a 22 year-old from Seattle, have been put on trial for voluntary murder of Kercher, for sexual assault against her, unjustifiable carrying of a knife, theft (about 300 euros, two credit cards and two mobile phones belonging to the victim) and simulation of a crime (for the breaking-in carried out in one of the bedrooms of the crime house in order to derail the investigations, according to the prosecution).

Only the American must answer as well to defamation against Patrick Lumumba, for having involved him with her declarations during the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher, in which it was recognised on the other hand that he had no involvement. Both have however proclaimed themselves completely extraneous to the charges.

Browsing Online


Total now reading 40
Peak daily visits: 21,909


Subjects This Page

• Concerning Meredith
  • In memory
  • Her London
  • Her Leeds
  • Her Perugia
  • Her Europe
  • Her family
  • Her video
• Crime hypotheses
  • The Micheli report
  • P-Points scenes
  • P-Points forensic
  • More scenarios
  • Myths rebutted
  • Similar cases
• Hearings and trials
  • Prelim hearings
  • Guede trial
  • RS + AK trial
  • The appeals
• Public evidence
  • Known witnesses
  • Cellphone activity
  • DNA and luminol
  • Other physical
  • RS + AK alibis
• Prosecution's case
  • Facts presented
  • Summing-ups
• Defense's case
  • Facts put forward
  • Summng ups
• The three defendants
  • Rudy Guede
  • Raffaele Sollecito
  • Amanda Knox
  • PR campaigns
• The legal participants
  • Italian law
  • Police and CSI
  • The judiciary
  • The prosecutors
  • The defenses
  • Truth on Mignini
  • Victims family
• Reporting on the case
  • Best reporting
  • Worst reporting
  • Books on case
  • Media news
• The wider contexts
  • Sonia Marra Case
• The many fall-outs

Your Comments

By True North on the post 'Oregon's David Wu: Another Opportunistic American Congressman Who Takes An Anti-Italy Stance'.


Washington State Judge Michael Heavey along with the three opportunistic politicians, Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. and Oregon Congressman, David Wu have injected themselves into this case for their own self-serving gain.

While greedily hitching a…

By Janus on the post 'Oregon's David Wu: Another Opportunistic American Congressman Who Takes An Anti-Italy Stance'.


I asked myself why the heck David Wu would be concerning himself in something like this, that doesn’t involve anyone he represents and which he doesn’t actually have any business commenting on in an official capacity (in a personal capacity,…

By The Machine on the post 'Oregon's David Wu: Another Opportunistic American Congressman Who Takes An Anti-Italy Stance'.


David Wu should read Ted Simon’s earlier comments about the evidence against Amanda Knox before he was hired by her family.

He should also acquaint himself with the facts of the case. He’s probably completely unaware the fact that Guede…

By Terence on the post 'Oregon's David Wu: Another Opportunistic American Congressman Who Takes An Anti-Italy Stance'.


Wu does he think he is?

By Peter Quennell on the post 'Oregon's David Wu: Another Opportunistic American Congressman Who Takes An Anti-Italy Stance'.


This comment posted by a fellow New Yorker (not by me!) below the post and that letter quoted above rang very true.

QUOTE

It’s completely obvious to me that the pro Amanda opinions put forth here (in this particular…

By mimi on the post 'Similarities Between Amanda Knox And A Teenage American Drug Addict Just Murdered In Mexico'.


The radiant, joyful girl in the top photo progressively morphs into the vacant, plastic doll on the couch. It is a pity she chose the excitement of the “adult” world and lost her natural, beautiful soul.

Steve Shay ( the…

By jasmine1998 on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Is it just me or do Knox and Peterson both look alike?

I’m talking about their physical looks like their eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, and hair?

Its scary to think someone can be so normal and then them end up…

By giustizia on the post 'Similarities Between Amanda Knox And A Teenage American Drug Addict Just Murdered In Mexico'.


@Peter,

Excellent points on another tragic story involving drugs.

I don’t think that Americans (or is it just the Knox/Mellas clan?) realize that the US gov’t does not interfere with the justice system of another country, especially an ally of…

By Peter Quennell on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Thanks Mojo. That looks like a good book that could be relevant to our case.

We have reason to believe that it would not be hard to find acquaintances of Knox around Seattle that would speak out about her…

By mojo on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


ann bird also wrote a book about her brother and her family which was less than supportive

http://www.findlaci2003.us/ann-bird-book-editiorial.html

By nashvilletn on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Wow…Very nice work!

By True North on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Peter,

It’s been almost 3 years since the tragic death of Meredith Kercher and I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to you and all those who have contributed to TJMK during this time.

TJMK aims to serve true justice…

By Peter Quennell on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Hi Nell. I know from insider info that you are right on all those counts of odd behavior. Some of it at least is in the forthcoming judges’ report and ALL of it really should be in books on the…

By Nell on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Besides all the weird behaviour from Knox already mentioned by former posters, I also remember that the police officer who interviewed Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox together the first time, stated Amanda Knox instead of pulling up a chair for…

By giustizia on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


@innai:
Thanks for the link to the article in the Economist - it’s very true that, lacking funds for a decent legal defense, you are in big trouble in the USA if you break the law. Oprah did get…

By Peter Quennell on the post 'Criminal Charges Almost Certain For Serious Disrespecting Of Meredith'.


Hi Lola. It was postponed. Not even in Italy well reported.

We do need more details. Seems now everyone is either at the beach or headed there! The Mediterranean countries (where air conditioning is still rare by US standards…

By Lola on the post 'Criminal Charges Almost Certain For Serious Disrespecting Of Meredith'.


Just wondered whether any Italian readers had any further information on the charges and court case described above? 

Lola

By lilly on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


guistizia, thank you for a very interesting post. I was not aware of the Peterson case.

While Knox’s supporters have repeated the line that “this would never have happened in America!” - Knox is very lucky that she didn’t commit…

By tigger34 on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


I find these two to be very scary human beings. We’ll soon be adding another name to the list: Casey Anthony…....

By giustizia on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


@Tara, True North, Hopeful, Innai & Peter: Thank you for your comments.

RE: The Peterson & Knox trial parallels: People don’t like to think so, but behavior of the defendant counts - A LOT - in a criminal trial both…

By Peter Quennell on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Hi Innai. Knox’s supporters seem singularly clueless on the law and how evidence and juries work. One or two of our lawyers looked at their sites and emerged shaking their heads remarking what a complete and total waste of time.…

By Innai on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Fascinating - even if you leave the two horrific murders aside, it is interesting to see both the parallels and differences in the way the two cases have been handled by the media and how they have been perceived by…

By Hopeful on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


7/24/10

Hearty applause for a lot of work in comparing these two, giustizia.

I always felt a little sad when I heard about all Scott Peterson’s gift-giving to people and his kinder aspects. It’s the sad reality that there’s good…

By True North on the post 'Master Manipulators, Masks, and Murder: Parallels Of The Amanda Knox And Scott Peterson Cases'.


Giustizia,

Thank you for your excellent comparison and analysis of the Amanda Knox and Scott Peterson cases.

By saskia on the post 'That Pesky Confession: Now Joran Van Der Sloot Is Trying Hard To Backpedal'.


Maybe initially Anita van der Sloot could morally get away denying her sons involvement in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Thanks to all evidence left by Joran, there is no way she can deny his involvement in the murder of…

Appeals Process

Judges sentencing report released March 4. We will be posting most of it in English very soon. Appeals late in 2010.