CBS Exclusive: Amanda Knox's Mom Punches Holes In Case Against Daughter

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

Perugia, Italy (CBS/AP) Amanda Knox's mother spoke to the Early Show Saturday Edition this weekend and tried to punch holes in the prosecution's murder case against her daughter.

Knox, from Seattle, is on trial, along with Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, for allegedly killing Meredith Kercher, Knox's British roommate in the central Italian town of Perugia. Knox and Sollecito both deny wrongdoing. They are charged with murder and sexual violence in what prosecutors assert began as a sex game.

Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, testified Friday and was in court as a spectator on Saturday.

Speaking from outside the courthouse, Mellas told Early Show Saturday Edition co-anchor Chris Wragge, "One of the big things you don't hear a lot about is the fact that, at the actual crime scene, there's no, no physical evidence of Amanda - not a hair, not a fingerprint ... nothing."

She continued, "The DNA (prosecutors say was found at the scene) is so insignificant - it's this tiny spot, it's not blood, it could well have come from ... who knows where."

48 Hours Mystery looked at the case in a recent episode.

PREVIOUSLY ON CRIMESIDER
June 19, 2009 - Knox's Mom Says Daughter, Victim Got Along
June 15, 2009 - "Always A Crescendo:" Amanda Knox Talks About Murder Investigation On Stand
June 12, 2009 - Knox's Alibi: Sex, Drugs And Sleep

June 8, 2009 - Amanda Knox Set To Testify In Italian Murder Trial
June 5, 2009 - Victim's Family To Testify In Amanda Knox In Italian Murder Trial

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by andys2009 July 6, 2009 9:43 PM EDT: well since none of the people who post here actually attend the trial and get their news info from internet tabloids you can be absolutely certain that are very mis-informed. i have a business and donate all the proceedings from one menu item to amanda legal defense fund, albeit several hundred dollars. and we canceled our italian holiday - i definetly dont want to visit a country that you are guilty until you prove your innocence. italy will become another aruba - zippo tourism. with regards to meridth kercher - very sad indeed, an innocent life is lost. a beautiful young lady. but they found a man guilty of the crime and have a pysho prosecutor, who can only save his face and honor by recognizing he made a mistake in prosecuting two innocent students.; Reply to this comment


by bucketoftea June 30, 2009 5:36 AM EDT: Naughty! Misleading headline! She didn't punch any holes...she may have tried, but....

Still so disappointed in CBS. You've done a really crap job for your viewers...been very nice to the Knoxes, but it's not like it's real objective reporting or anything.......I wish CBS could be charged with lying to everyone.; Reply to this comment


by mauiswift June 23, 2009 10:02 AM EDT: I am not sure why her mother would testify that Amanda Knox got along so well with Merrideth Kercher, when she lived in the United States, and her roommates contradict this statement, when they actually lived with her? The first comment on this forum says it well. CBS seems to be very passive and going along with whatever the Knox people say. I have rarely seen an accused murder's family not believe the Defendant/loved one. There may have been testimony that the room was too small for more than one person to commit the crime, but that person did not even attend at the crime scene, and 6 jurors who did attend at the crime scene seem to have no problem to fit into that room. There are many details missing in the American media reports, vital ones. As bizare as it may seem, Amanada Knox may have been involved, the Italians are not idiots, they seek justice just like any other country and do through investigations too. Amanda Knox is a difficult girl to figure out, she displays odd behaviour and looks like a school girl.; Reply to this comment


by harryrag1 June 22, 2009 7:00 PM EDT: For anyone who is interested in the facts behind the media spin, and who cares to learn more about the victim of this terrible murder - Meredith Kercher - there is an excellent discussion board

http://perugiamurderfile.freeforums.org/index.php

as well as an interesting blog

http://truejustice.org/ee/index.php

These online resources are not for profit. Anyone can read and/or participate and people from around the world do. They have followed this case since November 2007, and are in no way related to Amanda Knox. Nor are they her friends.; Reply to this comment


by Observer4 June 22, 2009 6:47 PM EDT: CBS continues its astonishingly bad reporting on this case. Is this journalism or has the once vaunted CBS news devovled to nothing more than a conduit for ignorant spin??? Ryan Smith or Chris Wagge could have done something befitting the proud journalistic heritage of the organization they work for like....God forbid....ASK A QUESTION YOU MORONS!!!! While, as in any contested trial, there are differing interpretations of the direct and circumstantial evidence supporting the charges, you can't evaluate the credibility of either side unless you ask questions... Do you really consider her Mom's statement that Amanda's DNA "could have come from anywhere" as supporting or justifying the assertion that she "punched holes in the case????" Have you read the forensic testimony or accurate reports as to that evidence and the means used to gather it??? Did you consider asking Mom for an explanation as to Amanda's complete lack of an alibi? Or her totally contradictory statements to the police? Her continuing accusation that a Mr. Lumuba black man (who fortunately had an airtight alibi) committed the murder? The fact that her boyfriend contradicts her stories? The fact that she suggested to the police that Rafaelle committed the murder? The coincidental, simultaeneous and highly unusal shut down of both her and Rafaelles phones shortly before the murder until the next day? Her blood at the scene....just a bad ear piercing? Taking a shower after allegedly coming home to find blood all over the place???? You people are pathetic....I hope an editor with some horsepower there takes the time to look at this "article."; Reply to this comment