The trial of Amanda Knox for murder will come to an end in a few days' time when the jury gives its verdict. The case against her - breathlessly reported by the British press at the time - has revealed itself to objective observers to be a fiction. But the Italian justice system, whilst it has its heroes, is in many ways not fit for a modern democracy. Guilty or not, Knox has already been the victim of a massive injustice. Here's Timothy Egan:
In closing arguments, Knox was described as a “Luciferina” and “a dirty-minded she-devil.” Preposterous, made-up sexual motives were ascribed to her. One prosecutor speculated before the jury what Knox may have said to Meredith Kercher before, he claimed, forcing an orgy that resulted in her death:
“You are always behaving like a little saint. Now we will show you. Now we will make you have sex.”
Nobody alleges that Knox said this to Kercher. But prosecutors asked the jury to imagine her saying such a thing.
What century is this?
As Egan goes on to explain, there's simply no serious evidence linking Knox and her co-defendant to the crime.
That the italian justice system has many problem is surely true, for the rest, your remarks are not so correct:
first the rethoric of the atterney is surely unfair but he is fighting against a defence who played first that card and doing it not only in the courtroom but also on alla the mainstream media and tv.
second, you must know that, in italian tribunals, we haven't jurys... the popular court is a quite different thing...
third, you must remember that miss knox and mr sollecito tried to accuse a man who result in having a strong alibi, a man named p. lumumba, that they thought would be a good "capro espiatorio" only for being stranger and black.
fourth police found many evidences of she and her friend liyng to the police, and you forget the the third person accused, has arranged a deal with the attorney, whithout having any substantial gain for himself (30 years indictment and lifelog reclusion, following the italian law, are not a different sentence, in italy you cannot serve more than 28 years of prison except for mafia or terrorism charge)
Last but nt least: mrs knox is defended by Giulia Bongiorno, chairperson of the powerfull justice commitee of the House of Representatives (camera dei deputati) , the lawyer of amanda knox has the legal power to inspect the judges of the trial in which she is a part, to indict them and to stop theyr carreers, do you think is it fair?
Posted by: mauro sabbadini | December 04, 2009 at 03:59 AM
Hi Mauro. Thanks very much for your comment - it's excellent to have such an informed perspective. I can still can see no serious evidence linking Knox to the crime. What you tell us seems like more evidence that this is a very unsound trial.
Posted by: Marbury | December 04, 2009 at 09:51 AM