Italy Verdict Draws Ire in the U.S.

[XanaDUer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/world/europe/06perugia.html

PERUGIA, Italy — Tensions and cultural misunderstandings ran high on Saturday after an American college student was found guilty of murdering her British housemate.

Rather than clarifying the saga of what prosecutors said was a drug-fueled orgy gone fatally awry, the conviction of Amanda Knox, 22, a Seattle college student, for killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher, 21, seemed only to heighten the conflicting public opinions that had formed in two years of fierce international news coverage.

In a statement after the verdict was delivered early Saturday, Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington, said, “I have serious questions about the Italian justice system and whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial.” She added, “The prosecution did not present enough evidence for an impartial jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Knox was guilty,” and said Ms. Knox had received “harsh treatment” after her arrest.

[whathehell]

1. Two major issues in the Italian Justice System as they relate to this Trial

A. They don't "voir dire" or screen potential jurors for prejudice, ability to be fair, etc.

B. They didn't sequester the jury NOR did they bother to tell them NOT to read the many tabloid (and non-tabloid) stories regarding the case.

As to the above, the press was filled with sensationalist stories characterizing Amanda Knox as "promiscuous" "angel faced with 'devil' inside her, etc.

One of the prosecutors had already been indicted on two counts of unprofessional conduct.

Whatever her guilt or innocence, this was in no way a "fair" trial by our standards.