Everything I based my guilty opinion on, what I heard and read in the news seems to be false information. These are some things I didn't know, or was misinformed. Amanda and Meredith only lived together for a month, hardly what I would call enough time for a deep hatred to grow and fester. The DNA evidence, where there is any, is so minute or possibly contaminated, or obvious (Amanda's DNA in her own bathroom?) is so weak it doesn't do enough to explain all of the other missing holes.
Patrick Lumumba was introduced into the scenario by the police, not by Amanda, based solely on a text message where she replied, "Ok, see you later. Have a good night." The police pushed the story that Amanda, by writing *see you later* was setting up a meeting later that evening. As we all know, *see you later* is like goodbye or ciao. Amanda's *confession* which is not even a confession was never admitted in court. The police arrested all three suspects, based on some hypothetical theory they insisted Amanda create, and then paraded them through Perugia, sirens and horns blaring in celebration.
Once Patrick's alibi checked out, and evidence pointed to Rudy Guede, Patrick was released. The police merely substituted one black guy for another into their bizarre story. The major problem with this is there are no text messages linking Amanda to Rudy - nothing that hints at a meet up, or that they even knew each other, except for a brief introduction, days/weeks prior. Instead of starting back at the very beginning, building a case with actual evidence, the police merely plopped Rudy into Patrick's place, and into their scenario of a scheduled meet up with Amanda.
They never tested the stains that they attributed to Amanda, the shoe print they attributed to Raf is so clearly not his, and identical to those of Rudy. The tiny piece of DNA they attributed to Raf was on the bra clasp, which was seen in numerous photos, over 45 days, tossed around the room, mixed in with piles of junk.
The postal police, who were the first officers on the scene, allowed Amanda, Raffaele, two Italian female roommates, and three Italian men walk around the apartment before they discovered Meredith's body, locked behind her bedroom door. They sent the Italian roommate, Filomena*, into her room (the room with the broken window - point of entry) three times to retrieve her items and to check whether anything was missing. She recalls seeing broken glass on her clothes that were scattered on the floor.
The boyfriend of one of the Italian roommates is the one who broke down Meredith's bedroom door. Amanda and Raf didn't see her body, and when Amanda was told what the roommates saw, she cried. Amanda spent days and hours in the police station and became a suspect when she got up to stretch, after sitting for hours on a hard chair. That, combined with a text message sent to Patrick, a suspect they realized was innocent, are the two major pieces of information that led to Amanda becoming suspect, and public enemy number one.
Meredith left her friends house at 9pm, with a book she borrowed, to go home and study. By approx. 10pm she was dead. And we are supposed to believe that Amanda, Rudy and Raf, in a random chance meeting, concocted this twisted premeditated (the knife in the purse) plan of rape and murder? It just doesn't make sense. I for the life of me can not figure out how they got convictions.
The stories of receipts for bleach were lies. The witnesses placing Amanda and Raf at the scene were BS. The stories we heard of Amanda at a store and a laundromat were false. I thought they were all partying together, drinking, smoking pot, and things got out of control. None of that is true. Witnesses place Amanda and Raf at his house, having dinner and watching movies. Raf was going to drive a friend to the airport, and had stopped by before and after Meredith was killed, placing them at his house.
Rudy had been arrested for breaking and entering in the weeks leading up to the murder, carrying a knife. He had been kicked out of his adopted home. He was friends with the Italian boys who lived downstairs and played basketball in the court across the street.
Because November 1 is an Italian holiday, the college town was almost deserted, most of the Italian students going home for the four day holiday. The four Italian boys who lived below Amanda had gone home, as well as the two Italian female roommates - leaving only Meredith and Amanda at home.
The blood in the bathroom was so minuscule it is almost impossible to see, and not the bloodbath the photos and media led to believe. There was one footprint on the bathmat, and other than that, tiny spots that could easily have been missed.
I believe that Rudy thought the house was empty, and was looking for a place to crash and to rob. I believe he knew the Italian roommates were all away for the weekend, and Amanda had been sleeping at Raf's. Meredith had gone out the night before for Halloween, and was at a friends the night of the murder- he most likely thought the entire house was empty.
I believe he then, most likely, went into the bathroom that is right next door to Laura's room, and went to the bathroom. I then believe, the most obvious scenario, that Meredith, while Rudy was in the bathroom, came home. Upon hearing someone enter, Rudy did not flush the toilet - hence the finding of his poo in the toilet. He then, most likely, crept down the hallway to her room, startling her in the middle of changing her clothes, preparing to study. (Description of the red and blue dots here.)
There was a phone call to Meredith's bank around 10pm. The bank automatically calls back at 10:15pm and no one answered her phone. Was Rudy trying to see how much money she had in her account, so he could use her ATM and steal her money? Her phones were then dumped around 10:30, in the yard next door.
DNA from Rudy was found inside Meredith, although not semen. The autopsy could not prove rape or assault. She was covered with a duvet, and was left to bleed to death.
I do not believe two knives were involved. I do not believe this wild story of orgies and murder (which I never believed even when I thought Amanda was guilty). I don't believe this was based on anti-Americanism, but I definitely believe there was an anti-Amanda sentiment. I believe the prosecution concocted their scenario and instead of starting back at the beginning once Patrick was absolved of any involvement, they just built their wacky theory based on no evidence.
There is no physical evidence linking Amanda to the murder. There is no evidence linking her to it, at all. No text messages setting up meetings. No proof of animosity between the two. No reason, no sense, at all. She definitely suffered for the fact that she only lived there for one month, and no one really knew her. She is a strange bird, with quirky habits, but a murderer? And Raffaele might be a bit of a nerd, but he was dating Amanda for 6 days... After six days this normal guy would suddenly kill for her?
The police have Rudy. His DNA was everywhere. He admitted to being there. He fled the country (Amanda chose to stay, even when her mother tried to get her to come home). Rudy has a prior arrest for breaking and entering. His footprints, and his alone, are in the blood surrounding her body, and they are tracked throughout the house. His finger prints are in the blood, all around and under Meredith's body. The break-in was not staged, there was glass in the bedroom, and a rock, and it was quite easy to climb up through the window. He didn't have anywhere to sleep, or a job.
I just don't get why or how they convicted Amanda and Raffaele. They have the real killer in jail. It is a tragedy that Meredith was murdered. And it is a tragedy if two innocent people are sitting in jail.
It just does't make any sense.
H/T Injustice in Perugia and Italian Woman at the Table
*Corrected, previously said Laura's room. Thank you to Candace! :O)
Update: I've received a lot of traffic and comments about this post, and as you can see, there are still a lot of people who don't know that actual facts on what was presented in court. I highly recommend reading Murder in Italy. I have passed on my copy and think everyone should pick one up. We really were told a lot of misinformation on the news.
Hi Sara
ReplyDeleteThis is Michael from Injustice Blog and Forum. Are you at the forum? Was wondering if we spoke before. I've also read the book, and am a strong believer in Amanda & Raffaele's innocence.
If you haven't yet, you might e-mail Candace - she loves to hear from folks who were influenced by her book.
Also, would be great if this could be posted at the forum.
Anyway - great analysis -
Mike
Please come and join our forum.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.injusticeinperugiaforum.org/index.php
Hi Michael - You did a fantastic job on your blog. You compiled so much great info - stuff we never saw or heard here on the news. It's really quite stunning that they managed to prosecute and convict Amanda and Raf. Per your mention I emailed Candace. My mom's BF is actually friends with Amanda's mom, so I know they are quite thrilled to have so many people supporting Amanda, and that Candace is changing people's minds. I will check out the forum. Thanks for stopping by, and again for all of your great information.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara,
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed startling - and depressing - that they convicted her. Interesting you have that connection.
One point - it's Bruce Fisher's blog and forum. I just participate there and elsewhere. I try to give all the support I can.
My school is working on a Service Project to write and send cards to cheer up Amanda and Raffaele at this stressful junture.
Hope to see you on the forum.
Mike
I haven't read the book. but did it mention, or do you know whatever happened to that mafia guy Luciano avello who is in jail but said that his brother robbed Meredith and then buried some bloody clothes? Was that claim ever investigated or was it all just hot air?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Amanda Knox is guilty or innocent (I assume guilty because the italian courts said so). It would be nice if this claim were even investigated because I would hate to think of an innocent young girl in jail.
hi sara
ReplyDeletea ruthless prosecuter invented so many lies and then got them printed in the press as facts in rudy's trial the judges bent over backwards to try and reduce his part in the murder so they could put as much blame as possible on amanda and raffaela,and finally to add insult to injury they analised everything that amanda and raffaela said for any inconsistancies and accused them of lying
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog. Thanks for writing about this case. Candace Dempsey's book has opened the eyes of many people. It really is the best book on the case out there. This case really is one of the biggest witch hunts, railroad jobs known.
Sarah
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were unanimously found guilty of the murder of Meredith Kercher because the evidence against them was overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThey repeatedly told the police a pack of lies in the days after Meredith's murder.
On 5 November 2007, Knox and Sollecito were confronted with proof that they had lied and were given another opportunity to tell the truth. However, they both chose to tell the police even more lies.
Sollecito's new alibi was shattered by computer forensic evidence and his mobile phone records.
Knox accused an innocent man, Diya Lumumba, of murdering Meredith despite knowing full well that he was completely innocent. She didn't recant her false and malicious allegation against Lumumba the whole time he was in prison.
Knox's account of what happened on 2 November 2007 is contradicted by her mobile phone records.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito both gave multiple conflicting alibis. Neither Knox nor Sollecito have credible alibis for the night of the murder despite three attempt each. At the trial, Sollecito refused to corroborate Knox's alibi that she was at his apartment.
Rudy Guede's bloody footprints led straight out of Meredith's room and out of the house. He didn't lock Meredith's door, remove his trainers, go into Filomena's room or the bathroom that Meredith and Knox shared.
He didn't scale the vertical wall outside Filomena's room or gain access through the window. The break-in was clearly staged. This indicates that somebody who lived at the cottage was trying to deflect attention away from themselves and give the impression that a stranger had broken in and killed Meredith.
Guede had no reason to stage the break-in and there was no physical evidence that he went into Filomena's room.
The scientific police found a mixture of Amanda Knox's DNA and Meredith's blood on the floor.
There was no physical evidence that Rudy Guede went into the blood-spattered bathroom. However, the scientific police found irrefutable proof that Knox and Sollecito tracked Meredith's blood into this bathroom.
Amanda Knox’s DNA was found mingled with Meredith’s blood in three different places in the bathroom: on the ledge of the basin, on the bidet, and on a box of Q Tips cotton swabs. Knox's DNA and Meredith's blood had united into one single streak on the basin and bidet which means they were deposited simultaneously.
Sollecito left a visible bloody footprint on the blue bathmat.
Knox's and Sollecito's bare bloody footprints were revealed by luminol in the hallway. Knox’s DNA and Meredith’s DNA was found mixed together in one of the bloody footprints.
An abundant amount of Raffaele Sollecito's DNA was found on Meredith's bra clasp. Sollecito must have applied considerable pressure to the clasp in order to have left so much DNA. The hooks on the clasp were damaged which confirms that Sollecito had gripped them tightly.
Amanda Knox's DNA was found on the handle of the double DNA knife and a number of independent forensic experts - Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni, Dr. Renato Biondo and Professor Francesca Torricelli - categorically stated that Meredith’s DNA was on the blade.
Sollecito knew that Meredith's DNA was on the blade which is why he twice lied about accidentally pricking her hand whilst cooking.
The defence experts were unable to prove that there had been any contamination. Alberto Intini, head of the Italian police forensic science unit, pointed out that unless contamination has been proved, it does not exist.
Amanda Knox voluntarily admitted that she involved in Meredith's murder in her handwritten note to the police on 6 November 2007. She stated on at least four separate occasions that she was at the cottage when Meredith was killed.
A highly pressured and a forced and coerced confession was placed upon Amanda and Raffaele , with denying them legal support.
ReplyDeleteThen they as a new foreigner to sign some legal document written in another language, after a all night interrogation without a video recording done.
So the case then became scrutinized and the police behavior abnormally suspicious, which unfortunately caused a defensive backlash and vindictive justice that has clouded the case ever since.
Hopefully the truth will surface and the victims family can find peace.
Hi Sara -
ReplyDeleteThanks for this excellent analysis.
From having read IIP you are aware that a former FBI agent named Steve Moore has published several articles on this case; he is actively and passionately working at great cost to himself to drag this tragedy from the peripheral vision of other forensic professionals into central focus so they can observe more carefully just what went on here. The international legal ramifications of the testing and use of LCN-DNA test results of the nature of those obtained here alone notwithstanding, much is at stake. His articles, along with those of Dr. Mark Waterbury (who also boasts an enviable CV in his professional field) are available in Italian at the link below.
I should add that Mr. Moore is available for interviews and any help you could provide in contacting media representatives inside of Italy would be most welcome.
Thanks for your excellent analysis.
all my best,
andrew
http://www.amandaknox.it
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteExcellent stuff. I too was influenced by Candace's book--thoughtful, humane, detailed, tightly sourced. It breaks down a lot of ugly misconceptions. It is by light years the best book on the subject.
Don't worry about Harry/Rag. She/He is an anonymous internet troll who has no real life and therefore has nurtured an obsessive hatred of Amanda, Raffaele, and their families. She/he seems to spend every waking hour spreading hate and lies. If you want to amuse yourself some time Google "Harry Rag" and you will find that she/has posted the same comments nearly verbatim hundreds and hundreds of times over the last year. What kind of lunatic does that?
Rag's misrepresentations start when she/he talks about the unanimous verdict. This is trying to exploit the fact that unlike in the US or the UK, two judges in Italy sit on the jury and control the proceedings. The verdict is what the judges want it to be. One could expose almost every point Rag makes as a lie or sly misrepresentation, but she/he has so little influence now it's not worth the bother.
The ranks of us who understand that Amanda and Raffaele are completely innocent are growing. To know the evidence well is to realize that Amanda and Raffaele could not possibly have committed this horrible crime.
Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Paul (Michigan, USA)
Sara - Great summary of the case (and book). Welcome to the growing number of people who believe that Amanda and Raffaele are innocent and wrongfully convicted. I believe every voice on this case makes a difference. We welcome you.
ReplyDeleteLSAB
Evidence that Amanda Knox was in Meredith’s room on the night of the murder:
ReplyDelete1. The double DNA Knife not only places Amanda Knox in Meredith’s room, but also indicates that she inflicted the fatal wound.
2. The woman’s bloody shoeprint on the pillow under Meredith’s body matched Amanda Knox’s foot size, but was incompatible with Meredith’s foot size. This debunks the myth that Rudy Guede acted alone and clearly places Amanda Knox inside Meredith’s room when Meredith was killed. The judges and the jury attributed this bloody shoeprint to Amanda Knox.
3. According to Dr. Stefanoni and Raffaele Sollecito’s forensic expert, Professor Vinci, Amanda Knox’s DNA was on Meredith’s bra.
Apparently, Vincenzo Pascali, Sollecito’s chief forensic consultant, also found Knox’s DNA on Meredith’s bra.
4. Amanda Knox’s reading lamp was found in Meredith’s room. This is further evidence that Amanda Knox was in Meredith’s room on the night of the murder.
5. Amanda Knox’s footprints were set in Meredith’s blood in different parts of the cottage, which clearly indicates that she had stepped in Meredith’s blood in Meredith’s room and then tracked the blood around the house.
6. Amanda Knox’s DNA was mixed with Meredith’s blood in the bathroom, which clearly indicates that her hands had come into contact with Meredith’s blood in Meredith’s room and that she touched different fittings and the box of Q Tips cotton swabs in the bathroom.
7. Amanda Knox voluntarily admitted that she was involved in Meredith’s murder in her handwritten note to the police on 6 November 2007. She even asked for a pen and paper to write this confession. Rudy Guede corroborates Knox’s confession that she was involved in Meredith’s murder.
Evidence that Raffaele Sollecito was in Meredith’s room on the night of the murder:
1. An abundant amount of Raffaele Sollecito’s DNA was found on Meredith’s bra clasp.
2. Raffaele Sollecito’s footprints were set in Meredith’s blood in different parts of the cottage. One of them was revealed by luminol in the hallway, and the other one was easily visible to the naked eye on the blue bathmat in Meredith’s and Knox’s shared bathroom. This evidence clearly indicates that he had stepped in Meredith’s blood in Meredith’s room and then tracked the blood around the house.
3. Rudy Guede and Amanda Knox have both claimed that Raffaele Sollecito was at the cottage when Meredith was killed. Guede claims that Sollecito and Knox killed Meredith.
Harry - I have seen his comment numerous times around the internet. Most of what he keeps repeating is typical of the misinformation that we heard in Italy - but, at least according to the book and IIP web site, none of it was in court.
ReplyDeleteSame goes for this last anonymous comment.
1. FALSE. The knife she supposedly carried from Raf's to her house is not the knife that killed Meredith, and was found at Raf's house.
2. FALSE - the footprints were never tested for blood, just things that showed up with Luminol. http://www.injusticeinperugia.org/footprints-04.html
3. I don't see that proof anywhere - there was DNA from 4 people on the bra clasp.
http://www.injusticeinperugia.org/TheBraClasp.html
Amanda lived there, her DNA should be all over the house...
4. Amanda Knox’s reading lamp - I don't know anything about a reading lamp - how does that prove ANYTHING against Amanda? Meredith borrowed her lamp to study? Did Amanda need a lamp for an orgy and murder?
5. False
6. Amanda's DNA WOULD be all over the bathroom. And they never tested for anyone elses DNA.
7. FALSE - not admitted in court, and wasn't a *confession*. Not only that, it was about Patrick, not Rudy.
Evidence that Raffaele Sollecito was in Meredith’s room on the night of the murder:
1. An abundant amount of Raffaele Sollecito’s DNA was found on Meredith’s bra clasp. - FALSE - it was a minute amount, which could have been contaminated in the lab, or could have happened in the 47 days that it sat tossed around the bedroom floor.
2. Disputed, and not proven.
3. Rudy Guede and Amanda Knox have both claimed that Raffaele Sollecito was at the cottage when Meredith was killed. Guede claims that Sollecito and Knox killed Meredith. - after the fact Rudy blamed them. Of course he would.
Thanks to all the others for commenting!
ReplyDeleteHi Sara,
ReplyDeleteIf you want to completely verify the information you've received in Dempesy's book, push through Judge Massei's Motivational document, available in English here: http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=259
These people were completely convicted on conjecture even by the judge. This report suggests all sorts of motives and magical thinking for Amanda & Raffaele but doesn't back it up with any hard evidence. He even explains in the document what mitochondrial DNA is and that it can't be used to identify a suspect, then goes ahead and uses it to identify both Meredith and Raffaele. How these people were convicted on the evidence presented is amazing. But the greater mystery is WHY were they convicted. I never saw a criminal case that looks more like a frame up than this one.
Thanks for your extensive analysis.
I have not been following this case closely - but did read press articles here in the U.S. that were sympathetic to Knox. I also saw that the prosecutor was already notorious for bungling the famous Monster of Florence case. The David Preston book about that fascinating case tells you all you need to know about the wacko prosecutor.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.prestonchild.com/solonovels/preston/monsterofflorence/
When I first heard about this case and the scenario of a sex orgy thrill kill led by Amanda Knox something didn't smell right. When I saw a very ordinary looking college girl behaving exactly as I would expect a young naive innocent girl to act, I was horrified with the way people were claiming to see a she devil there when I saw nothing of the sorts. I just recently took the time to read the details of the case and am absolutely convinced she and Rafaelle were railroaded.
ReplyDeleteA quack prosecutor could have taken the girl who stumbled upon the Bundy crime scene at the sorority in Florida, belligerently questioned her all night till she said something deluded, found some speck of dust to claim as evidence, and then when Bundy was caught red handed just thrown him into the crime as an accomplice. That is how wrong and ridiculous this case is. No American police department on a large campus, familiar with the pattern of property and sex crimes against students, would ever have considered Amanda Knox as anything other than a witness.
The investigators must have had wild stereotypes about American girls all being sex crazed, violent vixens just like in Basic Instinct to have focused in on this artsy, Seattle girl. Heck, judging by my experience with different "types" of subcultures amongst college age Americans, Amanda doesn't even look promiscuous. None of that fancy nail, and $300 haircut look. Nor does she look like an S&M dominatrix. Not that this means anything, but Magnini didn't even find the right type of girl for his role.
Still, this is more the fault of a bad apple than an indictment of Italy as a whole. The exact same kind of crazy witch hunt happened in West Memphis Arkansas in 1993. Three boys were found beaten and dumped in a ditch and the quack police jumped to the immediate conclusion that it was a "ritual satanic murder." With absolutely no evidence they railroaded three high school boys who listened to heavy metal, one of whom wore all black clothes. They are still in prison despite the fact that nowadays the whole scenario sounds preposterous and they are obviously innocent. Anyone interested should look up the West Memphis Three, Youtube has the disturbing HBO documentary "Paradise Lost: The Robin Hood Hills Killings" on their wrongful convictions. It will upset you so much you won't be able to sleep. The trial was recorded on video, the locals wanted to convict them so bad based on nothing but sensational press in the local media that just a few Metallica Albumns, the goth appearance of one of the boys, a book on Wicca, and the fact the "moon was full" the night the boys were found dead was enough to convict them.
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteAny new developments on this case that you could post about?
March 26, 2011
Lisa in Indy