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American Girl, Italian Nightmare

April 14, 2009 10:05 AM

In Full: A 16-month investigation by 48 Hours Mystery raises questions about the case against an American girl on trial for murder in Italy. Peter Van Sant reports.

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by objectiveobserver November 8, 2009 4:18 PM EST
It bears repeating from the 31 May post below that for those who do not believe that the prosecution has compelling evidence, please see the following site for an initial introduction to the case:

http://www.truejustice.org/ee/index.php?/tjmk/C360/
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by mayelf September 23, 2009 6:15 PM EDT
I feel like media is playing huge roles in all of the "hot" cases right now. We as a society are just deciding who is guilty and who isn't and not giving people a fair trial before we judge.

Come on... We need to cut out the media until ALL facts are in place and we can make our assumptions based on what we see factual, and even then...most facts are interpreted by the beholder. These assumptions seem to just get in the way of solving the truth of a case.

We convict way too many people who are innocent. In ALL countries.
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by journalism-or-bias September 6, 2009 9:03 PM EDT
you are totaly right lynnie1343. The American think they have got the best system while they are the wrost of all. In europa we don't send innocent people to death like the ameican. Hallo CBS! THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM, THIS IS ARROGANCE
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by TheFed41 August 16, 2009 9:30 AM EDT
MY PRAYER'S ARE WITH THE FAMILY, GOD BLESS
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by lmsenkir July 25, 2009 1:08 PM EDT
I don't think we can argue the justice, or injustice, of the Italian judicial system, or even whether it is right that an indicted public official remains in office. Unfortunately the crime took place in Italy therefore we must defer to their laws, the same way an Italian would if on trial in America. Anyone who chooses to travel the world must accept this risk.

It is clear, however, that Amanda Knox has become Mignini's personal scapegoat. She is his vindication. He is not going to stop until he proves her guilty, even if takes overlooking the obvious or weaving together a twisted path of questionable, tainted, or falsified evidence. His failed Monster of Italy investigation is a blemish on not just himself but his country. Preston & Spezi exposed Mignini and the Monster fiasco to the world, and for that Amanda will pay. After all, what is the common denominator here? Mignini. He is too far into his tangled web to admit he is wrong. All we can do is pray that the judge in this case has the courage to do the right thing. The only murderer is in jail. Let Amanda go home.
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by nicknat9 June 12, 2009 9:59 PM EDT
I don't believe in the fair justice system in Italy. It is rediculous! Look at this prosecutor who is himself broke the law on several occasions. How on earth he could still be allowed to continue his job??? This rediculous prosecutor got stuck on those "satanic conspiracy theories" that seems to be coming from the first well known serial killings of couples in Florence back in 80th. Now his doing this all over again with Amanda. Manini is dangerous. If he doesn't believe in facts and evidence that means he stuck in medieval times when the justice system of that time was burning "witches" on fire because of supposed conspiracy with satan.
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by Curious_Gal June 11, 2009 1:22 PM EDT
Why is Amanda's finger prints on any knife ...let alone on a knife that showed up in Rudi's house????
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by mauiswift May 31, 2009 7:25 AM EDT
for people who believe there is no evidence in this case, please see this webpage.

http://truejustice.org/ee/index.php
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by suigenerus May 28, 2009 6:36 PM EDT
To xenophobic Americans who comment on Italy's justice system, please watch this: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117293/

And look at :
http://www.innocenceproject.org/

I agree that there seems no evidence in this case, and roll my eyes at the number of people who comment about her guilt for such ridiculous reasons as "you see it in her eyes" or the way she kissed Rafael or the fact she had sex with more than one person or other irrelavent things. Where is the physical evidence?, where is the motive?, Where is the evidence of a relationship with Rudi Guide?, why is his blood and DNA and blood everywhere and Amanda and Rafael's is essentially nowhere (the knife thing is very very tenuous)


but still, shame on you CBS is this xenophobic reporting
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by marie-jeanne-2009 May 18, 2009 6:40 AM EDT
I meant to say I do not believe in the justice system of common law countries.
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by marie-jeanne-2009 May 18, 2009 6:36 AM EDT
I agree with some of the comments mentioned above, why is it that the US always see things their way? I believe in the justice system of continental Europe and of common law countries where defendants have the right to silence. This is an unacceptable view of justice. Justice is about getting to the bottom of the events and not allowing someone the right to silence. How can justice be served if the defendant says nothing. Furthermore, families of victims have the right to know what has happened to their loved once. Let the Italian justice system do its job as I have no doubt it is more efficient than the US one.
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by serafim2-2009 May 4, 2009 12:41 AM EDT
How can they have possibly convicted the black gentleman when no weapon fitting the evidence was ever found in his possession. How can they be trying the young Italian man and the young woman from the USA when no weapon fitting the evidence was found in their possession? Where is any DNA evidence from ANY of these three unfortunates that even circumstantially connects them with this unspeakable crime.

Something smells like offal here, and this offal emits from the Prosecutor and his "spiritualist medium" more than from anyone else.
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by serafim2-2009 May 4, 2009 12:29 AM EDT
The justice system of the United States of America is notoriously corrupt and incompetent. The justice system of Italy is notoriously corrupt and incompetent. BOTH are often racist. Both often convict or oppress innocent persons to the point of collapse. However, this particular case is set in Italy, the prosecutor is an occultist, and he is under indictment for a number of crimes. No doubt there have been similar cases in equally corrupt and incompetent justice systems throughout the world. However, here we are discussing this particular case and its background in Perugia, Italy. One of the accused happens to be Italian. The other happens to be a foreigner in Italy. The one convicted happens to be a black man. I suspect that both the convicted person and the accused are innocent. LOOK AT MANINI AND HIS "SPIRITUALIST MEDIUM." It is my opinion that they both know a hell of a lot more about both the "Monster of Florence" and the savage murder of Miss Meredith, the lovely exchange student from the UK who met with such a tragic end.

A very large percentage of the Italian population is neither affiliated with any established religion or with occultism, so don't blame this on innate superstition on the part of Italian citizens!
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by serafim2-2009 May 4, 2009 12:12 AM EDT
When one looks at the past actions of this prosecutor, Giuliano Manini (sp?), his long-time use of the work of the "spiritualist medium" Gabriella Carlizzi (sp?), beginning with his attempted prosecution of the American novelist Doug Preston and the Italian journalist, Mario Spezzi (sp?) for trying to find the notorious serial killer known as "the Monster of Florence," who is under indictment for corruption and for having broken Italian law on numerous occasions, another possibility comes to mind. This man, if he is Roman Catholic, is prohibited from consulting spiritualist mediums even as an individual. As a prosecutor, his accepting Gabriella's purported "conversations' with a deceased Roman Catholic priest, "Father Gabriele," as fact in his arresting both Mssrs. Preston and Spezzi, is surely illegal by Italian law.

And now, this "satanic conspiracy theorist" is trying Miss Amanda and her beloved Mr. Raffaele for involvement in a "satanic sex ritual gone horribly awry?" Very strange. If I were in a position of authority in the Italian criminal justice system, I would consider "Prosecutor" Manini as a person of very great interest in both the serial killings between 1974-1985 in Florence, and in the unspeakably gruesome murder of her innocent British room-mate and friend (God rest this young woman's soul and grant His comfort to her devastated family).

Is it just possible that "Prosecutor" Manini and his spiritual advisor, the "spiritualist medium" Gabriella are guilty of the serial killings in Florence and the murder ot this young British exchange student? It seems that they are very likely at least as much "persons of interest" as Messrs. Preston and Spezzi in the killings in Florence, and in the murder in Perugia as Amanda and Raffaele. I PRAY TO GOD AND HIS MOST HOLY MOTHER THAT MANINI AND GABRIELLA ARE RUN THROUGH THE SAME HORRIFIC INTERROGATIONS THAT MANINI PUT MESSRS. PRESTON AND SPEZZI, AND AMANDA AND RAFFAELE THROUGH. Then, we might start uncovering some solid, irrevocable facts!
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by TherealSarek May 3, 2009 11:29 PM EDT
To: Valmach
I believe it is because there is so much emphasis on Amanda.
I noticed the knife, thief and whole black man thing too. I however do not believe it wasn't
touched on because of racism. I have seen this done before, It is not always racism.

I've lived in La Paz county.
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by mauiswift May 3, 2009 10:59 PM EDT
The first program 48 hours did on this case seem to cast doubt on the Defendants. For some reason, this investigation did not. I cannot go by what 48 hours' investigator declares, that Amanda Knox is being railroaded. I don't believe he was privy to any insider information. He formed his opinion talking and doing recreations with the people of the town. I find it hard to believe they are holding this girl based on a notion of sexual rituals. It is not the United States, as should not be compared with the Italian system. Usualy, 48 hours reports facts of both sides, without stating who is gulity. I am unsure whether Amanda Knox is involved in this or not, they have not released much evidence, only a timeline which seems odd to me.
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by valmach April 29, 2009 2:12 PM EDT
So It s OK that they convicted the Black Guy.!? no one even mentions that if any of this ridicullous stoery needs to be laken seriously then ..It was not his knife who killed the girl it was from the kitchen of the boy friend. And being a thief does not make one a killer.. I have myself gone home with drunken girls who more than likely would give me a millisecond of their time they had been sober,. but i am no killer, lets call this what it is.. racist and backwards American trash TV.. Italians are vehmently racist as well as white bred Americans who simply believe all their little white girls are innocent.. Save America. forget about AManda
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by valmach April 29, 2009 1:59 PM EDT
This report is horrible "Little White girl in trouble" How boring, CBS is using the worst sort of sensational American trash Television you might have expected from Fox News, Using cut out chracters that you find in the 99 cents book bin to try and proove her not guilty. is even more ridiculous.. This story if seen in Italy has done her more harm than good. Besides if the Judge releases the white people then they certainly must let the black guy go free. If there is "any truth to this report i.e. the judge believes all three where involved and it was the girl who cut the throat of the victim.
CBS should be doing stories on how they are going to help save America. Not sensational racist crap.. Funny no one mentioned in this story that they would have to release the black guy.. since the knife was apparently not even his. It was in the Kitchen of the italian boy.

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by supaicha April 27, 2009 11:15 AM EDT
This story could be right out of La Paz County, Arizona... one of the most judicially corrupt places in the US. I have personally seen the corruption during years of residence in "Banana Republics" of Latin America. La Paz County corruption leaves those places as amatuerish.
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by douglas112101 April 25, 2009 11:48 AM EDT
After watching this episode, it appears to me that the purpose of this whole episode is to paint a picture of a superstitious and incompetent prosecutor, who himself is riddled with law-breaking activities, under a flawed legal system trying to wrongfully convict an innocent American girl. It leaves the audience with an anticipation that that American girl is not gonna get a fair trial under that "flawed" Italian legal system. I feel that, instead of giving a thorough and fair reporting of the case from the very beginning, CBS is trying to smear the Italian legal system in general and that prosecutor in particular in the hope of raising doubts about the impartiality of the Italian judicial system in the face of a case involving American citizen. Please don't always look at things from the American point of view: Amanda is first of all a human being who is suspected of participating in the murder of Meredith, regardless of her country of citizenship. I wonder if CBS would do the same episode under similar circumstances if the defendant was a Croat, a Belgian, or a German.
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