Amanda Knox Sued for Alleged Italy Murder

(AP)  A lawyer representing the family of a British college student who was slain in Italy is seeking euro25 million ($37 million) in damages from an American and two other defendants accused in the 2007 killing.

Lawyer Francesco Maresca said in court Friday that the family of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher is seeking the compensation from Amanda Knox, of Seattle, co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito and Ivorian Rudy Hermann Guede, who was convicted in a separate trial. They all deny wrongdoing.

Prosecutors have asked the eight-member jury in Perugia, Italy, to give Knox and Sollecito a life sentence. A verdict is expected next week.

Kercher's body was found in the apartment she shared in the central Italian city of Perugia with Knox on Nov. 2, 2007. Prosecutors believe the Briton was the victim of a drug-fueled sex game.

Knox and Sollecito, who have been jailed since shortly after the slaying, were in court Friday, as well as their families.

After making his closing remarks, Maresca acknowledged to reporters that the three defendants would not be able to pay some $12 million each. He said the amount requested was "symbolic" because human life is invaluable.

Italian law allows plaintiffs to attach requests for civil damages to criminal proceedings.

During Friday's sessions, damages were sought also for Diya "Patrick" Lumumba - a Congolese man who owns a Perugia pub where Knox worked and whom the American initially accused of being the killer. Because of her accusation, Lumumba was briefly jailed. He was later cleared and is seeking defamation damages from Knox.

Defense lawyers will make their closing arguments in the next sessions.

"The lawyers of the civil plaintiff are on the same side as the prosecutor, but with the same problem: they both lack evidence, " said Knox lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova. "We are serene, and we are ready to explain our positions."

[excoachken]

I have followed this case very closely and feel it is the combination of a bungled investigation, an out of control prosecutor with a failing career and a history of headline grabbing political show trials. That added to an arrest based upon her being an American during the last days of the Bush Presidency (most Italians were very angry at him for including them in Iraq) and you have a recipe for "quick fix" problem solution.
Each and every bit of circumstantial evidence has disappeared when it has seen the under the courtroom light, by an effective defense team and the jurors, most likely, will give a just verdict of "Not Guilty." The British parents, naturally deeply hurt, have a time limit in which to file their suit, so there is no way to tell if they really feel she is guilty or are simply acting out of revenge , in compensation for their awful loss.
As for "Patrick" Lumumba, he has a very shady past, coming from the Congo penniless and just two years later, being able to but a bar, worth millions, in Perugia,where a majority of his customers are American College students. Perugia has more American exchange students than any other city in Europe, and "Patrick's" Bar was a source of all sorts of "mood modifiers" some legal and many illegal. Now, this slime ball who was released by authorities in favor of the easier target of a young foreigner who did not understand the Italian criminal system as well as he did, wants to add to his drug dealing wealth, at the expense of a girl who has been put through an emotional wringer that none of us could have withstood. She deserves acquittal and an exit from this nightmare, nothing less!

[krmopilci]

as a good american,she thought it is ok to kill a foreigner.just say:"the foreigner was a terrorist" and you are free.lock the grbge for life!

[Turbidite]

It seems that many of the people commenting on this trial are as bloodthirsty as whoever murdered the unfortunate Meredith Kercher. I doubt that anyone commenting knows the truth of the matter.

[krmopilci]

that is why there are courts.

[tmittelstaed]

She isn't innocent. She has repeatedly changed her story during the investigation. Kercher didn't die by herself and if Knox wasn't the one with the knife, she was there watching it happen. Knox's strategy has been to deny she was doing anything wrong, in hopes they won't have enough of a case to convict. Well, if she wasn't the one with the knife she surely was doing something else that was very questionable at that time.

[MTinMO]

You are aware of the "prosecutor" in this case listens to a woman who has visions about "witchcraft" and frequently says it involves weird sex rituals and other very strange things? That he decides who to charge based on things this woman says? That if she were guilty, she and her boyfriend would have succeeded in committing a crime leaving no physical evidence at the crime scene? Experienced criminals would like to know how that was accomplished. You are aware the "prosecutor" is under investigation for how he handles cases? How he has prosecuted others based on his witchcraft woman says it happened? How can you have any faith in a justice system that would allow someone to use "visions" instead of real evidence? Unless you are a member of the murdered girls family that so desperately wants justice they will accept anything they are told, logical study of this case dictates that the probability of this young woman and her boyfriend being involved is very low. As far as anything that was said, this young woman was questioned for many hours in a language she did not understand. An interpreter should have been present to make sure she and the police were understood. From what I have seen with the system of justice in Italy, I don't think I believe it is very just.

[Justice4All1210]

MTinMO it seems I continually ask bloggers this question and to date none have can actually provide an explanation. If all that you and others have written were true and accurate why have 2 successive US administrations not raised diplomatic concerns for these serious accusations regarding the case, its investigation not to mention the prosecutor? As for Italian justice; I watched the OJ Simpson trial and was stunned that he was not found guilty.

[voxpopulus]

And if she's guilty she'll certainly be cheered by the people rooting for her for no better reason than supporting the "home team".

[JZZZZY]

What a ridiculous mess. The Prosecutor is out of his mind. Where is our ambassador to Italy. This is a travasty and we should boycott this location to send a message. She should be entitled to a fair trial and outcome... I pray she gets it.

[Justice4All1210]

Interesting comment, so why do you think the US Embassy or the US Department of State has not raised these concerns on Amanda?s behalf during the past 2 years? Surely if the prosecutor was corrupt or mad as you say the US government would have intervened. In addition, why did Amanda and her Mother allow a man to be ailed accused of murder for 2 weeks when they knew he was innocent, his release had absolutely nothing to with Amanda retracting her statement accusing him.

[krmopilci]

maybe we should send american jury,those ones that set white cops free after they kill a minority.

[AnnieDanny]

If she is innocent, this is a nonstop nightmare for a kid who just wanted to study abroad.

[krmopilci]

say thank you to your foreign policy.at many places she would be executed just for being an american.when you attack people you don't count what you will get back.send glen beck and shawn hannity to defend her.or send her to hike to iran.