Italy’s most famous prisoner waits to hear about her future on Monday, but even that decision won’t be the end. Barbie Latza Nadeau says the media frenzy, whatever happens, is likely to be intense and controversial.
There is a weekend lull in the media trial of the century in Perugia, Italy, as Amanda Knox’s judges and jury take what is surely a much-needed break before making their crucial decision on Monday.
Many members of the local press left town on Saturday morning—even the ringleaders need a break from the circus sometimes—and those who traveled from America and the U.K. are preparing their verdict stories and courting Knox’s parents. Everyone will be in place on Monday morning, when Knox’s venerable attorney Luciano Ghirga will give his rebuttal to last week’s closing arguments. Then Knox herself and her co-convict Raffaele Sollecito will make their final pleas for their freedom. Those close to Knox say she has been preparing her statement for months.
The final outcome of this case is not as simple as it seems. Italy has a complicated judicial system, and the first trial, at which Knox was convicted, was the first in a three-step process. The second level, the current appellate trial, is then followed by the high court’s final ruling—no matter how this one ends. That is to say, the prosecution can also appeal the verdict if the duo are freed. Over 50 percent of all cases in Italy are modified during the appellate process, so Knox has reason to hope—and reason to worry. Her Moldavian jailmate, known as the “black widow,” had her own murder conviction overturned on the second level, only to find herself reconvicted of the crime by the high court. At this stage, literally anything could happen.....read more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/02/amanda-knox-trail-awaits-verdict-on-october-3-2011.html
