The Amanda Knox trial- is anyone following?

[derek]

This trial pretty much illustrates how the media has slowly morphed into a behemoth fit for practically nothing other than spewing partisan and poorly written bollocks.

I'd guess 1% of news reports or editorials on news sites I read are worthwhile.

 

[Djöfull]

lolwut? A fortune teller? Where the fuck did you hear that?

She speaks fluent Italian at the age of 22 and she knows how things work here, she mentioned facts about the crime before anyone else knew anything about it, she broke a window to make it look like an intruder, changed both her and her boyfriend's stories at least 3 times, and she pointed the finger at an innocent man, ruining his life.

A co-worker told me it was mentioned in this story:


Where did you get your facts? Maybe she was at the scene when the murder took place but too afraid to reveal it because of fright of being accused or of the murderer.
Anyway of course I'm not sure of her innocence.. it's just my impression of the case. I mean how do they support their sex-crazed-satanic orgy gone wrong? It's just a theory... Seems like the prosecutr wants something compelling and schocking to convict them. This Rudy guy was known to be a thief and frequently carrying a knife. + he fled to Germany.. He could be the only killer...

 

[Dead Winter]

Understandable. However, she didn't once ask for anything from the US embassy, a US lawyer or anything. If you're accused of something you didn't do in a foreign country, would you NOT talk to your embassy? I dunno about you, but that's the first place I'd go.

Her only rationale for not even trying to contact the embassy would have to be that she had some part in it and realized that being convicted in an Italian court would be WAAAAAAYYYYY better than being convicted in an American one.

Just my thoughts. We may never know, but of one thing I'm sure: she will appeal, and she will have her sentence dramatically reduced.

 

[Super Mahrio]

^ oh. Thanks for the warning then. Will never watch that. EVER.

Yep. Same.

 

[rebirth]

no one can save her now

 

[derek]

Yep, the Italians are so draconian they're probably just going to eat her.

 

[Shpongled]

You at least could have linked Azal's band name!

 

[derek]

?

 

[Shpongled]

I dunno man. Sometimes the fingers just fly

 

[Dead Winter]

It's the only way to go. Good on ya.

 

[Dead Winter]

Yep, the Italians are so draconian they're probably just going to eat her.

This had me lawling. Never a dull moment, Derek...good one.

This is from the AP:

PERUGIA, Italy – Amanda Knox told The Associated Press from her jail cell Sunday that she is scared but hopeful eight days after an Italian court sentenced her to 26 years in prison for the murder of her British roommate.

"I am scared because I don't know what is going on," the 22-year-old American student said during a 10-minute visit by two Italian lawmakers, prison officials and a pair of reporters in Capanne prison on the outskirts of Perugia.

Knox has been jailed for two years since she was arrested a few days after the slaying of Meredith Kercher in the house the two students shared in this Umbrian university town.

"I am waiting and always hoping," Knox said, switching from English into Italian for the delegation. "I don't understand many things, but I have to accept them, things that for me don't always seem very fair."

Sitting on her bed in the 9-square-foot cell when the visitors arrived, the Washington State woman said "I was feeling horrendous" after the Dec. 5 verdict that she was guilty of murder and sexual assault.

"The guards helped me out. They held me all night," she said.

Her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was convicted of the same charges and given a 25-year-sentence. After the verdict, he was transferred to another prison. Both insist they are innocent.

--

Haha, yeah...she's really roughing it.

 

[derek]

They're probably making her pasta right now.

 

[Dead Winter]

Dude, seriously. If they're not making it for her, she'll be making it herself with her hotplate in her room while she watches tv.

Her boyfriend may have it a bit harder due to being a male and with all the crazy and savage immigrants in jail with him.

 

[derek]

So what'd be your estimate for how much her sentence will be commuted?

 

[Dead Winter]

If she gets it commuted it'll probably be cut down anywhere between 12-15 years. Italian courts always take into account time served and so the two years she's already done will count as well. Then good behavior cuts off a bunch as well. Therefore, worst-case scenario being she doesn't get it commuted, she could quite possibly get out in 10-12 years with good behavior. Should she get it commuted, she'll probably get out within 5-7 years with good behavior. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Italian courts determine that the jails are overcrowded and decide to deport her back to the states, barring her from ever re-entering Italy.

The Italian government is notoriously pro-American and want to keep up the highest relations with the US as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if after a year in jail they decide to send her back home. This country is notorious for not only bending the rules but also breaking them if it were to benefit them. Also keep in mind that everyone here is in love with the new American government and that Hillary has already shown her dismay towards this trial. Public relations can go a long way.

 

[derek]

Yep, it's similar to the system in the UK (the one I'm most familiar with).

I figured her two years on remand would count towards the sentence and that good behaviour would roughly half the total sentence whether it gets commuted or not. The debate about her guilt aside, the justice system across most of Europe really is quite messed up. The finances behind prisons dictate it to an extent, but still - something's not right.

 

[Dead Winter]

Agreed.

 

[derek]

Not that it's any better anywhere else, of course.

 

[Dead Winter]

Of course. Being overzealous isn't the proper response for being under. It should be said that although I'm for the death penalty, there need to be strong, strong prerequisites for calling for the death penalty in my opinion. However, like everything else, it's a societal question and not a penal one. If you put a hardened murderer from the US in a European prison focused on rehabilitation, he'll most probably not be rehabilitated, while the chances of a European murderer has a better chance due to the society he/she came from. I'm not broad-brushing anyone, just pointing out the fact that the US needs to work on bettering its society as a whole instead of executing people because people want revenge, however justified it may be. There are people who are beyond help all over the world but there has to be more than just one answer.

Here we're all of the mind to just deport foreign criminals. We're tired of paying taxes for illegal immigrants to sit in jail for a couple of years, only to be let out and stay here afterwards. Many people don't want vengeance or anything here, they just want illegal immigrants "out of the balls" as they say here. It's starting to work, however. If you're an illegal alien in Italy and you commit a crime (of course not small fines or anything like that, but real crimes), they immediately give you the boot.

 

[Dead Winter]

Here's a little more insight into her jail cell:

Her cell includes two beds — she shares it with another woman, who has been identified by other lawmakers in previous visits as a 53-year-old American woman from New Orleans who is serving a four-year sentence for a drug conviction. For privacy reasons, Knox declined to talk about her cellmate.

The cell also includes a private bathroom with shower, toilet and bidet.

The visitors were not allowed to bring cameras or tape recorders.

Knox said she doesn't watch TV or read newspapers. But there are TV sets in the prison.

The prison was decked out for the holidays, with Christmas trees. During a short tour, the delegation saw a hairdressers, whose services inmates can use once a week. A ping-pong table is among the recreation facilities.

The American stood the entire time of the visit, which took place shortly before lunch time in the prison.

--

Seriously, some dormitories in the military aren't that nice.