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American Girl, Italian Murder: The Verdict

December 6, 2009 11:40 AM

The crime. The outrage. The jury's finding. Watch "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Peter Van Sant's in-depth report on the Amanda Knox case.

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by joaves October 5, 2011 10:08 PM EDT
Wow, it seems clear that an elaborate fantasy was created by the prosecution based on what Italians fear worst about American culture. What was put on trial was an American culture (their cartoon understanding of it) that they don't understand and that scares them. Probably also reflects an anti-American feeling caused by Bush. I'm sure for awhile, Italians felt safe from their fear that American "freedom" means being vulnerable to the lowest animal impulses, the inhuman kind. That is not my country at all.
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by mlc2005 October 3, 2011 3:30 AM EDT
This case, sadly, turned into not a case of justice, but a National pride issue. I am hardly pro-defense by any stretch, and think most people who claim to be innocent of capital murder usually are lying. But in this case, here's what I see: American's are appalled by the type of trial found in Italy (non-sequestered juries, zero order in the court, no voir dire to make sure a fair jury is selected, and a prosecutor who also works as an interrogator). Italians, alternatively, are annoyed that Americans are putting down their system, and are defending it zealously.

I knew nothing about this case while it was going on (in college). I read the judges report after the verdict (justifying the verdict) and was appalled and shocked. There was so much speculation, such as claiming it was suspicious Knox went home to take a shower "since she had already taken a shower the day before." Etc, etc.

Every legal scholar in America and Britain that I have seen discussing this case (both for and against Knox) note that this verdict would NEVER have happened/been allowed in US or England.

I hope that the truth, whatever it is, becomes the central issue here, and not the pride of Italians refusing to second guess a system that appears, the many, to be profoundly broken.
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by phyllisg49 August 6, 2011 10:49 PM EDT
It is truly amazing to me that people still think these two were involved in the crime. There is absolutely no evidence that they were there -- only fantasy, speculation, lies, and tabloid hearsay. The new book by Nina Burleigh, entitled "The Fatal Gift of Beauty," examines all aspects of the case from all sides. Amanda and Raffaele were not perfect people, and Amanda no doubt did inappropriate things, most likely out of ignorance, but that doesn't make either of them murderers. Magnini made this whole thing up in his mind.
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by sheesh1234 August 2, 2011 6:03 PM EDT
i don't like the fact that she lied about her boss. it makes me doubt her innocence.

my theory of what happened is that her boyfriend had a sexual fantasy of having an orgy and manipulated amanda to convince meredith to fulfill raffaele's fantasy. meredith didn't agree and they tried to force and threaten her to comply, but it got ugly and she evidently tried to fight for her life. just my theory but it doesn't mean it can't be proven as facts.
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by habakkuk2222 June 3, 2011 2:36 PM EDT
CBS should be ashamed. Some journalism. As of this date i see no interest by the media in the judges report. Does cbs have no interest in any facts of this case. Just the smearing of a judge and a jury. Regardless of guilt or innocence, the media has shown us that amanda is a hedonistic, narcissistic, sociopathic little monster. Would we have seen so much interest in this case if amanda was homely and poor???? Just more fodder for the jaded, shallow, easily entertained american public
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by josaphene1 April 17, 2011 7:17 AM EDT
this is such a sad case i am from the uk and for a long time on our national news papers amanda and her then boyfriend were portrayed as satanic killers i started to look into this case and found that they both actually had nothing to do with the british students murder. they have the right man rudy but for some reason want to make an example of amanda and raffael. how could they have a fair trial when the ppl prosecuting them are under scrutiny thmeselves plus the massive media attention. its all wrong and needs to be fixed i have no doubt in my mind that amandas innocent but unfortinatly in this day in age the media prosecutes you well before your trial and ppl beleive everything they read or hear in the media nancy grace for instants on some cases she really has her opinion well before all the evidence has been released or a trial has even started media hype can damage someones human right to a fair trial. its like a witch hunt!!
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by cybertechguy91 February 27, 2011 4:31 AM EST
I want "48 Hours" to do a follow-up of the 2009 investigation of Amanda Knox and his ex-boyfriend this year as soon as possible.
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by kathy2359 February 23, 2011 4:31 PM EST
What a terrible injustice! After watching the Lifetime movie I did not see why Lifetime was accused of portraying Amanda Knox as guilty. From the beginning of the movie until the very end I never doubted Amanda Knox's innocence. I thought the portrayal of Amanda by Hayden Panettiere captured the naivety and innocence of Meredith in every scene. I have 2 daughters and watching this poor girl being berated by the police reminded me so much of my 20 year old, who I believe would probably also be found guilty of murder because her reactions and responses would be exactly the same, as would any 20 year old that is innocent and terrified and just wants to get the nightmare over with. This story touched my heart. I hope that this family gets the help they need soon.
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by beau336 November 18, 2010 10:21 PM EST
Amanda and Raffaele are totally INNOCENT! There is absolutely no evidence that puts them at this crime. I have never seen such an injustice as this. Please Free Amanda and Raffaele!
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by star1403 October 24, 2010 1:48 PM EDT
Mangini is crooked. There is no evidence against Amanda or Rafaelle.
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