Amanda Knox Cuddles up to Guards for comfort

Amanda Knox seems to be dealing with her imprisonment as well as can be expected. Here is a well written story from AP on a recent visit with Amanda Knox - AKA Foxy Knoxy

Amanda Knox 'Scared,' But 'Always Hoping' After Trial

PERUGIA, Italy — Amanda Knox told The Associated Press from her jail cell Sunday that she is scared but hopeful eight days after an Italian court sentenced her to 26 years in prison for the murder of her British roommate.

"I am scared because I don't know what is going on," the 22-year-old American student said during a 10-minute visit by two Italian lawmakers, prison officials and a pair of reporters in Capanne prison on the outskirts of Perugia.

Knox has been jailed for two years since she was arrested a few days after the slaying of Meredith Kercher in the house the two students shared in this Umbrian university town.

"I am waiting and always hoping," Knox said, switching from English into Italian for the delegation. "I don't understand many things, but I have to accept them, things that for me don't always seem very fair."

Sitting on her bed in the 9-square-meter (96.88-sq. feet) cell when the visitors arrived, the Washington State woman said "I was feeling horrendous" after the Dec. 5 verdict that she was guilty of murder and sexual assault.

"The guards helped me out. They held me all night," she said.

Kercher's body was found in a pool of blood with her throat slit on Nov. 2, 2007, in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox while the two were studying in the medieval town of Perugia in central Italy. Prosecutors said the Leeds University student was murdered the previous night.

Knox's Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was convicted of the same charges as her and given a 25-year-sentence. After the verdict, he was transferred to another prison. Both insist they are innocent.

Defendants in Italian trials can appeal pursue appeals, and Knox's lawyers have expressed hope she will be acquitted in an appeals trial.

Knox looked relieved when one of her visitors, Italian parliamentary deputy Rocco Girlanda, recounted the unrelated case of a young man also convicted of murder at the first trial level but exonerated in the appeals trial.

In Italian jails, inmates can wear their own clothing, and Knox wore a gray-and-white-flecked turtleneck sweater, black legging pants, white socks and black slippers. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

The visitors, who included a reporter from the Italian news agency ANSA, were not allowed to ask Knox questions about the trial itself.

Instead Knox spoke about her affection for her family and her determination to continue her university studies, the reason why she came to Perugia in the first place a few months before the Nov. 2, 2007, slaying.

"I believe in my family. They are telling me to stay calm," Knox said. Her family, as well as a senator from her home state, Maria Cantwell, have spearheaded a vigorous campaign to convince Italian authorities she is innocent.

The visit was arranged by Fondazione Italia USA, which promotes close relations between the two countries, in an effort to heal any rift over accusations that Italy's justice system is unfair.

"My family is the most important thing for me. I also miss going to classes," she said. "I miss stimulating conversations."

She said she is in contact with her professors. "We are trying to work out how I can talk to them," she added, noting that while she can write letters from prison, e-mail access is forbidden.

Her cell includes two beds — she shares it with another woman, who has been identified by other lawmakers in previous visits as a 53-year-old American woman from New Orleans who is serving a four-year sentence for a drug conviction. For privacy reasons, Knox declined to talk about her cellmate.

The cell also includes a private bathroom with shower, toilet and bidet.

The visitors were not allowed to bring cameras or tape recorders.

Knox said she doesn't watch TV or read newspapers. But there are TV sets in the prison.

The prison was decked out for the holidays, with Christmas trees. During a short tour, the delegation saw a hairdressers, whose services inmates can use once a week. A ping-pong table is among the recreation facilities.

The American stood the entire time of the visit, which took place shortly before lunch time in the prison.

AMANDA KNOX VERDICT GUILTY OF MURDER

Seattle sex kitten Amanda Knox has been found guilty of the 1997 murder of Merideth Kercher. The 8 person Italian Jury just announced the Guilty verdict in a midnight court room session.

The parents of Amanda Knox were at the courthouse with their daughter and had prepared two statements for the press. Hoping for an aquital, Amanda Knox's parents were preparing for a 30 minute press conference at a local hotel. Unfortunately, Amanda Knox will not be going home for Christmas as she may very well be facing life in an Italian Prison.

After the Amanda Knox verdict announcement, several questions still remain. How long will Amanda Knox remain in prison? Will Amanda Knox serve her prison sentence in the United States or Italy? This will all be answered when the judge in the case rules on sentencing in the Amanda Knox Murder trial.

Of course Amanda Knox still has the ability to appeal her murder conviction and is expected to do so. Failing the appeal, Amanda Knox may very well face life in an Italian Prison.

Case details:

Amanda Knox and her ex boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were both found guilty in the murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007.

The defence for Amanda Knox argued investigators only found one piece of DNA evidence on the scene, a cigarette butt containing Raffaele's DNA. In addition, the defence for Amanda Knox argued the amount of DNA in support of a murder conviction against Amanda Knox was so small it could not even be re-tested for accuracy.

Regardless of their objections, the jury decided against Amanda Knox in this international headline grabbing case.

VIDEO OF AMANDA KNOX VERDICT

A jury in Italy convicted American college student Amanda Knox of murdering her British roommate and sentenced her to 26 years in prison shortly after midnight Saturday.

Amanda Knox's ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was also convicted and sentenced to 25 years.

As soon as the judge read the verdict in the Amanda Knox murder trial, Amanda Knox began weeping and murmured, "No, no," then hugged one of her lawyers.

Minutes later, the 22-year-old Seattle resident Amanda Knox and the 25-year-old Sollecito, were put in police vans and driven back to jail with sirens blaring.

Prosecutors in the Amanda Knox murder trial had sought life imprisonment, Italy's stiffest sentence. Courts often give less severe punishment than what prosecutors demand.

Amanda Knox's father, Curt Knox, asked if he would fight Amanda Knox's conviction, replied, with tears in his eyes: "Hell, yes."

"This is just wrong," her stepmother, Cassandra Knox, said, turning around immediately after hearing the verdict. Amanda Knox's family had insisted Amanda was innocent and a victim of character assassination.

Amanda Knox Verdict

AMANDA KNOX FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER

The Amanda Knox murder trial in Italy is almost at a close as a jury or eight deliberates on a verdict for Amanda Knox who is being accused of the sexual assault and murder of Meredith Kercher.

The jury begin deliberations on the Amanda Knox verdict at about 10:40 a.m. local time. It is expected the Jury will sit of at least 10 to 12 hours with a verdict on the fate of Amanda Knox (AKA Foxy Knoxy) expected by the end of the day or early tomorrow.

In an emotional plea, Amanda Knox took the stand to address the jury “Now it’s your turn,” Amanda Knox says she tries to stay positive in the important moments, and that this is one of them. Amanda Knox added, she was afraid of having to wear “an assassin’s mask” for the rest of her life.

Merideth Kercher’s parents, who have pretty much stayed away from the trial in the murder of their daughter, are expected to be present for the verdict in the Amanda Knox murder trial.

The Amanda Knox trial has been riddled with rumours and speculation regarding Amanda Knox's sexual preferences and a rumoured Amanda Knox Lesbian sex tape.

Related Links

The Amanda Knox Murder Trial Verdict is in

The jury has decided on the fate of American Student Amanda Knox and the verdict is Guilty on all counts

Amanda Knox - Foxy Knoxy Trial Continues with Ex Boyfriends testimony

Italian ex-boyfriend testifies in Amanda Knox murder trial

From Hada Messia, CNN

Perugia, Italy (CNN) -- The former boyfriend of Amanda Knox, an American woman on trial for murder took the stand Thursday, telling jurors he is not guilty of the slaying for which he also is charged.

Raffaele Sollecito and his former girlfriend, U.S. citizen Amanda Knox, are charged with murder and sexual violence in the November 2007 knifing death of Meredith Kercher. Amanda Knox and Kercher, a British exchange student, were roommates. A third suspect was found guilty in a separate trial and is appealing his conviction.

"I am not a violent person," Sollecito said. "I've not killed Meredith. I was not at the scene of the crime. Every day I hope that the guilty one confesses. I ask you to give me back my life," he said.

Sollecito did not face any questioning.

Before his testimony, prosecutor Manuela Comodi offered a rebuttal to defense claims of sloppy evidence-gathering at the crime scene. She focused on the technical aspects of the evidence against Amanda Knox and Sollecito and questioned the forensic arguments used by the defense. She also defended the investigators, calling them professionals who stayed out of the media show surrounding the case.

Comodi rejected allegations that Sollecito's DNA found on a bra belonging to Kercher could have been contaminated. Other than a cigarette butt in the kitchen with Sollecito's DNA on it, she said, investigators did not find his DNA anywhere else in the house. The bra, the prosecutor said, was found in the bedroom where Kercher was killed. Forensics investigators wore gloves when retrieving the bra, Comodi said.

That proves, she said, that Sollecito was at the crime scene when the slaying took place.

Sollecito also left other traces of having been in the house, including footprints, she said. Some of the footprints were found in the bathroom, Comodi said.

On Wednesday, a defense lawyer for Amanda Knox made an impassioned plea to the jury.

"We suffer at the memory of Meredith. But we look at the future of Amanda," Luciano Ghirga said in his defense summation.

"Meredith was my friend," he quoted Amanda Knox as saying, rejecting the notion that the American student hated her roommate.

Prosecutors say Kercher died during a twisted sex game in which Amanda Knox taunted Kercher while Sollecito and acquaintance Rudy Guede sexually assaulted her.

The prosecution says a knife found in Sollecito's house had Amanda Knox's DNA on the handle and Kercher's on the blade, among other pieces of evidence.

But Ghirga rejected the accusations against Amanda Knox.

He attacked the way police and prosecutors had treated the defendant.

Ghirga concluded an emotional oration -- sobbing as he came to the end -- by asking the judge and jury to acquit Amanda Knox, because her mother asked him to request it, because her family asked it.

Amanda Knox's father, Curt, said Wednesday Amanda Knox had been a victim of "character assassination."

Members of Kercher's family have declined repeated CNN requests for comment.

But prosecutor Giuliano Mignini accused the defense of "lynching" the Italian police who worked on the case.

Every day I hope that the guilty one confesses. I ask you to give me back my life.

--Raffaele Sollecito, charged with the murder of Meredith Kercher
He defended the work of the police and the credibility of the prosecution witnesses as he responded to Ghirga's arguments Wednesday.

And he called again for life sentences for Amanda Knox and Sollecito if they are found guilty. Italy does not have the death penalty.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations Friday, after the prosecution completes its summary.

Another Amanda Knox attorney on Tuesday said the prosecution's theory doesn't fit the facts of the case and there is not sufficient evidence to find Amanda Knox guilty.

Calling Amanda Knox a victim, Carlo della Vedova said police rushed to judgment, leaving Amanda Knox to fend off a myriad of false media reports regarding the crime.

The lawyer showed photos published in the media, purportedly showing the crime scene, that weren't authentic, and said false allegations and rumors about Amanda Knox's character created a bias from the start.

Della Vedova also questioned the change in what prosecutor Mignini said was the motive for the killing.

In preliminary hearings Mignini argued Amanda Knox, Sollecito and Guede slashed Kercher's throat during a sexual misadventure as the two men vied for Amanda Knox's attention. In recent days, Mignini has focused more on what he says was a hatred between the two roommates.

Defense lawyers have staunchly disagreed, claiming the two women were friends.

Ghirga said they had gone to a chocolate festival together days before Kercher was killed.

The defense has argued that Guede, who was convicted in a separate fast-track trial and is appealing his conviction, was the sole killer. The defense has said there is no evidence tying the three suspects together or proving they planned Kercher's murder.

Della Vedova also focused during closing arguments on the lack of evidence tying Amanda Knox to the crime scene.

As defense lawyers have throughout the trial, he cast doubt on DNA evidence prosecutors claim shows Knox's DNA on a knife. The defense has claimed the knife doesn't match Kercher's wounds or an imprint of a knife left on a bedsheet. They also claimed the DNA sample is too small to be conclusive.

During the first day of closing arguments for Amanda Knox's lawyers, della Vedova stressed to the eight-member jury that they should also keep church law in mind. He told the jury they needed to be "morally certain of their decision."

"If you have the minimum of doubts, you must absolve this young girl -- a girl that is merely 22 years old," he said.

Amanda Knox and Sollecito have been jailed for more than two years. Their trial began in January.