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Original poster

Did anyone read the interview with Amanda Knox's parents (Perugia murder suspect) in the S. Times today?

28 replies

whippet · 15/06/2008 21:34

Although I was aware of the case, this article made me feel so sad and also so scared for my own DC:

  • seems that however much we think we know our children, we just will NEVER know what they are relaly like.

I'm not saying she is guilty - just that the interview highlighted that the daughter they thought they had, was very different to the girl being portrayed. (Thinking about the drugs/ sex references really).

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:35

No.

But I think she's guilty and I don't mind saying it.

Original poster
whippet · 15/06/2008 21:39

Well, I could be convinced of the same Expat, but if she is, she was presumably off her head on drugs? (which isn't a justification of course).

Link here if anyone wants to read it.

OP posts:
FairyMum · 15/06/2008 21:43

I don't know the case that well and have no idea if she is guilty. I have always thought that the media might be making her into something she is not though.

expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:46

I just wish they could extradite her back to the US to stand trial there.

Because there's no mitigating circumstance for being on drugs or drink when you commit a felony, that was your lookout and if you chose to get like that you deserve all that you get if you're found guilty.

I think she's a sociopath and I hope she's sent back to the US where people like her are locked up for life if they're found guilty.

Quattrocento · 15/06/2008 21:50

It's all fairly implausible isn't it?

you wander back home and don't notice your flatmates been murdered despite bloodstains

then you accidentally make a confession which you later withdraw

it doesn't add up

spicemonster · 15/06/2008 21:52

Her story doesn't add up but I'm not entirely convinced by the Italian police's powers of investigation either.

expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:53

of course, the parents wouldn't want her extradicted to the US because they know she wouldn't be able to lie her way out of it there.

and her sentence would be very, very long.

Piffle · 15/06/2008 21:53

oh dunno saw the documentary and reckon ms Knox definitely involved in the killing. Perhaps not the instigator but a willing participant. Not sure about her boyf though...
one wonders if the truth will ever really come out

Original poster
whippet · 15/06/2008 21:53

I think that is the image that the media is trying to portray, Expat, but who knows if it's true or not?
It doesn't sound as if the evidence is as clear cut as was first made out, although it IS also clear that her story is unreliable/ has changed etc.

I'm sure lots more has yet to emerge.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:54

oh, it's not hard to believe it's true, whippet. back home, i knew a lot of people like her.

Original poster
whippet · 15/06/2008 21:55

Italian investigation sounds dodgy, and one of the invetsigators is under investigation himself!

OP posts:
spicemonster · 15/06/2008 21:55

Why would she be extradited to the US? I thought you stood trial in whichever country the crime took place in. Not that I know a lot about this kind of thing ...

Quattrocento · 15/06/2008 21:56

ah Expat - more of your fascinating life (genuine)

How many deranged killers do you know

Original poster
whippet · 15/06/2008 21:56

Where's 'back home' expat - the US?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:58

i don't buy her story for a minute. i really don't.

i think anyone who is high or drunk should be charged as if they were sober as judges because they chose to alter their state of mind.

in some US states, an accomplice faces that same charge as whoever pulled the trigger/wielded the knife/etc.

she's lucky enough in that Washington State is not one of those places.

it's just too bad she will probably never face some real justice for whatever role she played in that young woman's horrible murder.

expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:58

I am dual American/British national, whippet.

paolosgirl · 15/06/2008 21:58

I thought her parents and sister (esp the sister) were desperately clutching at straws, and had justified every weird bit of behaviour to themselves - of course you would laugh in the aftermath, whilst buying a thong with your boyfriend and joking about having wild sex .

Still think she's guilty, and feel so so sorry for Meredith and her family. Just tragic.

expatinscotland · 15/06/2008 21:59

oh, i've known some real sociopaths, Quattro.

including a roomate of a friend's in Georgetown who was downright frightening.

he just seemed incapable of remorse and was narcissistic to a scary degree.

chenin · 15/06/2008 22:22

it sends a shiver down my spine. My DD1 is on the same course and is doing the same year out as that poor girl. Next year she goes abroad for a year with Erasmus same as Meredith, and I shall worry endlessly

chenin · 15/06/2008 22:23

to explain... Erasmus is the Company that sorts the year abroad...

findtheriver · 15/06/2008 22:56

It's a truly scary story however you look at at.... either she is innocent and in a nightmare situation, or guilty, and her parents (who appear to have been pretty close to her, in contact a lot while she was away etc) have no idea of what she's capable of.
I haven't a clue about whether she's innocent or not, as I don't know her, don't know those involved and do not know the details of the forensic or circumstantial evidence. But it's an awful situation, whatever.

ReallyTired · 15/06/2008 23:03

I doult that any parent would believe their child was capable of murder. However EVERY murderer has a biological mother and father.
Admitally some murderers have awful parents or were in care.

Anyway, I think its fair that the accused are tried and punished by Italian law. If she is found guilty and the USA is willing then prehaps she should be transfered to an American jail so that her parents can visit her. That is something to be negioated between Italy and the USA.

I am sure that Italy do punish murderers and their accomplaices. I believe that Italy has a better human rights record than the USA.

Even if she does deserve the death penalty, it does not make it right to execute her. Prehaps allowing her to live and spend 15 to 20 years in an Italian Jail would be a tougher punishment than killing her. Maybe she will suffer remorse.

Ellbell · 15/06/2008 23:16

helliebean... where is your dd studying? Does she know yet where in Italy she's going? I have seen so many students spend years abroad in Italy (probably about 500 in my time) and it really is a safe country - as safe as anywhere is, of course. And that's not to say you shouldn't worry for your dd. I know I would if it was my child (mine are only 8 and 6, so a while to go yet). But it really is a wonderful experience and your dd will learn so much.

ERASMUS (or Socrates) is not a company, btw, but an EU scheme for the movement of students, which has been running since the early 90s, IIRC. Your dd's exchange will be managed by her home university in the UK and the university which she is visiting in Italy, and there will be a coordinator, with whom she should be in contact, in both places. If she has any worries or difficulties, she should contact her coordinators immediately (she may find she gets a quicker response from the UK than from Italy!). Hope this helps to reassure you.

chenin · 16/06/2008 19:07

Thanks Ellbell.. that is very reassuring. She is at Birmingham Uni and she is actually going under the Erasmus scheme to Spain... I know it's not Italy but this awful thing that happened to that poor girl and her family could happen anywhere in Europe.

The trouble is, at this age, they think they are invincible. I have always brought her up to be polite, kind but not tooo trusting but the bottom line is... they are naive at this age. They think they know everything but they haven't mixed with all sorts of people from all walks of life and in a foreign country. She is soooo excited about going to Spain for a year and I know she will benefit enormously from this experience. I will do my best not to worry too much {smile]

Ellbell · 16/06/2008 22:27

helliebean... I know it's impossible not to worry, but the Erasmus scheme is really good, and there will be all kinds of support available - both in Spain and from the UK. Please tell your dd that she can contact her Year Abroad Coordinatr (or whatever they call it in her Department) in thoe UK about any kind of problem or uncertainty. That's the beauty of email these days - it's very easy just to drop your tutor in the UK a line and say 'does this sound OK to you?'.

Tell your dd to take the normal precautions that she'd take in this country about not going places on her own late at night, always telling someone where she's going, not accepting lifts from strangers, and so on. What happened in Perugia could have happened anywhere - abroad or in the UK. After all, here too students share accommodation often with people they haven't met before or don't know very well (hmm, not sure if that makes thing better or worse in terms of worrying about them, but you know what I mean, I hope).

I bet she'll have a wonderful time and won't want to come home at the end of the year. And it'll be a good excuse for you to have some nice holidays in Spain in order to go and visit her. Good luck to your dd for next year; and good luck to you in staying calm.