Amanda Knox and the Wages of American Imperialism

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/304-justice/21803-focus-amanda-knox-and-the-wages-of-american-imperialism


In their totality, the combined theories presented to the three courts by two prosecutors were so illogical and utterly lacking in substantiation that it's the prosecutors, not the defendants, who should have been on trial - for misconduct.

Further, that a second prosecutor could present a second case that all but abandoned the entire premise of the first case, after the first case was thrown out on appeal, is patently malicious, and absolutely does constitute a separate/unique judicial instance and double jeopardy in a very material sense. The whole thing makes a profound mockery of the entire concept of criminal justice.

But while there is little chance that Amanda Knox is guilty of murdering anyone, she is in fact guilty of two very important things: being an inconveniently pretty young woman and being an American abroad in the Bush era.

<snip>

What was at issue for those nations from which citizens and residents were taken was their national sovereignty and the integrity of their judicial process. None of which appeared to matter to the Bush operatives, but mattered greatly to those nations where the crimes occurred - including, significantly, Italy.

In the midst of this international conflict simmering just below the surface of broad public view, a young American woman traveled to Perugia, Italy, to study. Her subsequent arrest and high-profile trial for the murder of roommate and fellow student Meredith Kercher would rivet world attention on the very same Italian judicial system that the US had casually disregarded throughout the Bush years.

Italy never got their CIA agents, but they got a pretty young girl from Seattle, and with her the undivided attention of America and the world to the authority of Italian justice.

[pnwmom]

1. I think this writer is onto something. Amanda's being punished for the crimes of her country,

and poor Raffaele -- the man who is much more likely to actually go to prison now -- is just collateral damage.

[MH1]

2. if that's true - some moral high ground they have there, eh?

I've managed to avoid knowing enough about the case to be committed one way or the other, but based on the general stuff I've heard I don't see how they have a case. If this girl is innocent this is so awful.

[pnwmom]

3. If you ever feel like knowing more,

you could look here:

www.murderofmeredithkercher.com

Don't confuse it with "themurderofmeredithkercher" -- that's a hate site.

Most of the people posting on the pro-Amanda sites started out from a neutral position or even thought she was guilty at first (I did.) Then, as they examined the actual evidence, they came to realize that there was a big enough hole of reasonable doubt to fly a 777 through.

Unfortunately, though Italy is supposed to be using the concept of reasonable doubt, they didn't apply it in this case. The first appeals Judge did, but the high court threw out that ruling, saying that the new appeals court should consider the "totality" of the evidence, rather than looking for weakness in the case. In other words, a lot of very weak evidence, in their minds, can add up to a strong case. The more smoke and mirrors, the better.

[Herman D]

4. Our Forefathers' intent behind double jeopardy was

the state has unlimited resources to bring charges and bind for trial.
So, to level the playing field somewhat, the state gets one shot at a defendant.
In Italy, it's clear, the state brings charges until they get the results they want.
I read an article on the trial, which btw was in absentia, and the Italians ran a kangaroo court.
My heart goes out to Amanda Knox, for she's going to be a pawn in the bigger scheme; if the USA "needs" bases in Italy, her extradition will be grated forthwith, even though it would urinate upon the Constitution.

[Adrahil]

6. The outcome was determined as soon as the retrial was ordered. NT

[Aerows]

5. I think this is the truth

She's being tried for being an American, not for murder.

[davidn3600]

7. Somewhat perhaps, but...

I think part of it is embarrassment and an attempt to save face. A murder happened on their soil. They messed up the investigation while the world is watching. Everyone is cracking jokes about their justice system. They did make errors and those errors were not intentional. And it's difficult for a system to admit it was wrong. We see that in America when police or the courts screw up, they dont like to admit it even when it's plain as day to see they were wrong.

Is it push-back agaisnt what is perceived as America arrogance or exceptionalism? It's terrible to think they are using this woman to make an example out of her. You'd expect better from a western European country.