The parents of Amanda Knox, Curt Knox and his wife, Edda Mellas are facing libel charges over their claim that Italian police abused their daughter.
Knox was the US student, along with her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, convicted of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher.
They were convicted in 2009 of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher in the cottage the two women shared in Perugia. Kercher was found semi-naked, with her throat slashed. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison and Sollecito to 25. Both have denied the charges and their appeal begins as the Lifetime movie about the case hits the air. Another man, Rudy Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was also convicted of the killing and sentenced to 16-years. He appealed and lost.
The charges come from an interview they gave to the Sunday Times three years ago.
They have, and are still, alleging that Amanda was physically and verbally mistreated during questioning after Kercher's murder in 2007.
The police denied harming Knox.
Not living in Italy, a court charged them while they were not even present in Perugia. They are now scheduled to stand trial on the 4th of July.
Curt Knox, Edda Mellas and Amanda have stated that Amanda was not assisted by an interpreter, she was denied food or water, she had been abused both physically and verbally and that she had been slapped on the back of the head and threatened.
Libel is a criminal charge in Italy and carries a sentence of six months to three years, as well as a fine.
Lawyers for Sollecito and Knox are arguing that there is neither reliable forensic evidence nor a motive. The prosecution acknowledges it could not supply a motive for the involvement of Knox or Sollecito in the killing.
In the meantime the Lifetime movie is drawing criticism on all sides.
The murder victim's father, Jon Kercher, has criticized the re-enacted sequence as "absolutely horrific."
Earlier this month, Knox's lawyer sent a warning to Lifetime to cancel the film and trailer that reportedly included a threat to go to court to keep the film from airing. "The movie is ill-timed since Amanda's appeal is under way.”
"Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy," features "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, aired despite opposition from both the families.
Author and forensic scientist, Mark Waterbury, believes Knox is innocent.
Waterbury examined the case for a new book.
He said the new movie could damage Knox, because it is airing while the case is still in appeal. "The Monster of Perugia: The Framing of Amanda Knox," Waterbury wrote Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted because of corruption in the Italian legal system. Waterbury not only believes Knox is innocent, but he also claims she was framed by corrupt prosecutors. Waterbury worries that potential jurors could be tainted since the media have a huge impact on the Italian justice system.
No matter where this goes, it doesn’t appear there can be justice because speaking out results in the Italians pressing charges just for questioning.
http://www.t2conline.com/news-room/headliners/1339-can-their-be-justice-for-amanda-knox
