Amanda Knox

Amanda Knox is an American college student, being held in custody in Perugia, Italy, on multiple charges spanning over 3 years. Knox was an honors student at the University of Washington, in her sophomore year, when she moved to Italy in September 2007, to attend language classes at the University for Foreigners, with money she saved working multiple jobs near Seattle, WA. In 2009, she became the "most watched woman on Italian television" even more than Carla Bruni, due to her court hearings. In November 2007, she had been arrested as a suspect in the death of her roommate, then charged in October 2008, with slander against her former boss, and in January 2010 charged with defamation against the local Perugia police. Several investigators, such as CBS consultant Paul Ciolino or veteran FBI Agent Steve Moore, and several legal experts believe that those charges are unfounded. While in custody, Knox has continued to study Italian, German and other languages, with online college courses from Seattle University. When Amanda Knox moved to Italy in September 2007, she and British roommate Meredith Kercher became "fast friends", attending the university together, and going to pubs at night. They had even phoned each other, the day before the murder, to discuss their Halloween costumes. At midday on November 2, 2007, when Meredith didn't answer her phone, Amanda called their Italian roommate Filomena for help. Their friends broke in Meredith's locked bedroom to find her body semi-nude under a duvet, stabbed in the neck, with blood all around. Her 2 credit cards, 300 euros (~$420) and house-keys were missing. Her 2 mobile phones (for local and UK calls) were found in gardens off a nearby street, one ringing when Amanda called. In October 2008, the main suspect, Rudy Guede, who matched DNA and a blood hand-print and shoe-prints under the body, was tried and convicted for murdering Meredith Kercher, and sentenced to 30 years in prison, reduced to 16 years on appeal. Guede had been released by Milan and Perugia police, although caught with a stolen knife and PC/phone in a nursery school, just 5 days before the murder. Guede had claimed he saw an unknown knifer come to the house and stab her, fully dressed, but he couldn't explain how his Nike blood shoe-prints were on the bed pillow under the disrobed body. However, Amanda Knox and her boyfriend of 8 days were also tried for the murder, in 2009, based on minimal or contaminated evidence not allowable in U.S. courts, and the initial verdict was guilty, but upon appeal in April 2010, they were granted a new trial for the end of 2010. The lead prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini, was convicted, one month after them, for judicial misconduct and illegal wiretapping committed years earlier, but he also appealed the ruling (pending a suspended prison sentence) and was allowed to prosecute Knox for more charges. Even if Knox is acquitted of the murder, she still faces charges of defamation for testifying the police forced a false confession, and she could remain in prison for the remainder of 2-6 years if found guilty of defamation. Her parents have also been investigated for defamation in Italy, by telling her story about the Perugia police, and could spend 2-6 years in prison, unable to help support her legal expenses. While in prison, Knox has continued her college studies with online courses, just as her former boyfriend, Raffaele, completed his B.S. degree while in custody. Amanda Knox has announced plans to write a book about her experiences and ordeal in Italy.