Knox Family Wants U.S. Government Involved

(CBS)  For centuries the town of Perugia has drawn scholars, tourists and in recent years foreign students eager to study and bask in its glories.

Amanda Knox had just arrived from Seattle to spend her junior year learning Italian when she met a nice Italian boy named Raffaele Sollecito, reports CBS News correspondent Alan Pizzey.

The two said they were in his apartment smoking marijuana, watching a movie and making love the night before police broke down the door of the cottage Knox shared with British student Meredith Kercher.

There was blood everywhere, and the body of Kercher with her throat slashed.

Knox went to the police voluntarily to give evidence. But they thought she acted strangely. She kept changing her story and two days later she and Sollecito were arrested and charged with Kercher's murder.

Journalist Andrea Vogt began covering story for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer online.

"Amanda knox's attorneys explained that behavior as sort of a cultural and generational gap, that she was a young foreigner. She was kind of an odd bird
from Seattle. She didn't act like they thought she was supposed to. And therefore they started to suspect her early on," Vogt explained.

Questioned without a lawyer, Knox claimed police were verbally abusive and even hit her. She implicated a local bar owner in the murder. He was later cleared.

The DNA of a drifter named Rudy Guede was all over the crime scene. He was arrested, tried separately and sentenced to 30 years in jail.

More on the Amanda Knox Trial:
Amanda Knox Visited in Prison by Family
Amanda Knox Found Guilty of Murder
Photo Essay: Verdict In Italy
Case Timeline
Amanda Knox: I am Not a Killer
Knox's Lawyer Cries in Court

When Knox and Sollecito got their turn in court, the prosecution claimed that they and Guede forced Kercher into a drug-fueled sex game because she had criticized Knox for being promiscuous and untidy. They said she ended up killing the British girl.

The Italian judicial system uses a jury of two judges and six citizens who are not sequestered. Amanda Knox became a media sensation dubbed "Foxy
Knoxy," her childhood nickname.

The defense contended evidence was tainted, that DNA samples were too small to count.

In a final plea to the court, Knox - speaking in Italian - said she was "scared of being branded what I am not…scared of having the mask of an assassin forced onto me."

The verdict came at midnight: Guilty. Twenty-six years in jail for Knox, 25 for Sollecito.

Knox sobbed as she was led away.

"I am terrified of what she is going through right now because she is alone. I have my parents, I have my aunts, I have my younger sisters with me. She has no one," Knox's sister Deanna Knox said.

Knox's divorced parents bankrupted themselves to pay for her defense and to be in court every day. They were outraged.

"It's a complete miscarriage of justice. It's a travesty to the Italian judicial system," Curt Knox, Amanda's father, told 48 Hours.

Knox has an automatic right of appeal.

"Many cases are overthrown on appeal here in Italy," Vogt said. "Also it's very common that a sentence will be halfed."

The family says they let Italian justice run its course and are turning to political pressure from the United States.

"Now I do want the government involved and I would be very, very disappointed if they did not get involved," Curt Knox said.

But until her appeal comes up, probably next October, Amanda Knox will stay in the women's wing of the jail outside the town where she came to study and have a fun-filled year.

[maryann1963]

Regarding the Amanda Knox case, we as Americans need to put a hurting on these corrupt Italian court system. DO NOT BUY any of that towns products PEROGINA and BACI especially now that the holidays are here. Make them feel it where it hurts in thier pockets. The American Government needs to get involved , what a misjustice. And I am italian first american generation.

[jwesel1]

And I am italian first american generation.
============================================
Wow, it took only one generation to learn the American way of using money to influence courts. Your family is a quick learner.

[fedup12]

by brianbwb-2009 December 6, 2009 10:37 PM EST
Actually unlike hypocrites, my words and actions are consequent, I now live in Bali.
Yes, our justice system is not good enough, as evidenced by the hundreds being freed because the judge "sold" them to a private prison, among other miscarriages.
I don't drink, but only a few California wines are up to international standard.
The government? that is too long a response, let's just say Iraq and Afghanistan, collapsing economy, and leave it at that.
And yes, Americans are hypocritical.
I dare you to prove me wrong.
--------------------------------------------
I have known many EU folk that are JUST as hypocritical as Americans. I had a French dude just the other day telling me to go shoot some more Indians. Would be like me reminding him of the Guillotine and viva la revolution. I guarantee that Americans do not corner the market on hypocrisy but again that is a matter of opinion. Funny how your story has changed... From Detriot to make a point and now you are from Bali.

Liking wine is a function of taste. Many people worldwide like American wine and some have won awards in Europe. I guarantee not all European wines are great either.

Liking our justice system is also subjective. For instance in Italy Jury's are not sequestered and allow their jurors to be bombarded by public opinions like this and vital criminal cases do not have to be unanimous, just a majority. I bet they have a lot of innocent people in jail there. American justice seems to have an advantage there.

As far as the Govt. I agree about Iraq. But isnt Democracy grand? We can change it. Some of us are working toward that end. We are just coming off a really bad decade. It happens. Italy has had a few.

You are uppity. Now get back on your high horse and ride off into the sunset.

[jwesel1]

The biggest mistake that Amanda did was to kill a white woman. To use the "I wasn't in the right state of mind" defense, she should have killed a black person.

[Mukanil]

"contrary to popular opinion, the usa does not rule the world nor does it have anything to do with the justice systems of other nations."

This is the sort of attitude that caused those retards to convict her. "We'll show that the USA isn't the boss of us" instead of fairness. It's not surprising though, that country has always been corrupt. The only thing Italy has going for it is some nice cars, clothes, and perfume... yeah, it's all about appearances for them. Just like their legal system, it appears like it might be a real judicial system, but they lack fairness and it's corrupt, obviously corrupt considering their prosecutor is being investigated. I'm sure he's hoping for the same keystone cops that investigated Knox.

Yeah, this needs government intervention because it's obvious Italy sucks at being able to run a fair trial on their own. Italy, pfft... we should invade them again, the only country to fall faster was Iraq. Bunch of wussies take a shot at America by convicting an innocent, how very pathetic, from a pathetically weak people.

[GinaDC1]

Many of these comments presupose:

(1) Innocent people are never convicted in Italian courts.
(2) A review of this case is not within the rights of the accused.
(3) The commenter alone possesses all of the facts.

Where are the moderators?

[I_am_me1953]

Well, she wanted to study the Italian language, looks like she will have plenty of time to do that now. After 26 years in prison she should be fluent.




Also, from the above article, "I am terrified of what she is going through right now because she is alone. I have my parents, I have my aunts, I have my younger sisters with me. She has no one," Knox's sister Deanna Knox said."

I realize you are hurting sis, BUT...most people are "alone" when they go to prison. The US Govt. needs to stay out of this one, unless it is to provide her confinement here, closer to her home.

[longtree-2009]

unless you were present for all of the trial or you were present during the commission of the crime itself or were a member of the jury, whatever your comment plus/minus it's just completely irrelevant, baseless, just hot words or hot air. contrary to popular opinion, the usa does not rule the world nor does it have anything to do with the justice systems of other nations.

[formrusmcsgt]

I'll admit I am surprised at the number of people who didn't sit through the trial and hear all the evidence condemning the decision of those who actually did.....

[finkfurst]

At least she got a trial, there are thousands of innocent people still rotting (and dying) in American jails around the world, who would love to get the same treatment that she got.

[mejordelahistoria]

the government should not get involved defending this murderer, she must rot in jail. Her family owes not only an apology to the murdered girl's family, but also to the guy amanda accussed falsely. The italian court sentenced her to pay 40 thousand euros for difamation...... the evidence is simply overwhelming.