First media reports on the trial started coming in a few hours ago and I have just read this interesting report in the Telegraph
Tears in the courtroom? Whatever next? A crack in the armour or a bid to assure the public and (more importantly) the jury she is responding emotionally to what is happening around her? Appearing more human at this stage certainly won’t do her any harm. Perhaps Amanda has actually started to realise the enormity of the case against her or perhaps her lawyers have finally told her to stop grinning and sit still. Either way she might win back a few brownie points, I can’t imagine the jury have been impressed with her behaviour so far.
The first DNA evidence will be discussed today in the form of the knife, the reported murder weapon. The 13.4 inch kitchen knife has Amanda’s DNA on the handle and the victims DNA on the tip. Nicki’s post over at TJMK on the DNA evidence which will be presented over the next few weeks/months is very interesting and gives a good outline of what we can expect to hear in terms of evidence in the near future and it’s reliability. It looks like Amanda’s lawyers are going to have a hard time convincing the jury that the DNA on the knife was the result of contamination.
I’m curious about Amanda’s sudden change from happy, smiling and relaxed to sombre and teary. Her father says “Amanda is doing OK but she’s had her freedom taken away from her for 16 months. You tell me how you would cope.” Though I can understand what he is trying to say I find it hard to believe Amanda’s reaction to her confinement would have changed so dramatically in a week, unless her parents have finally been honest about her chances of remaining in jail for the next 20-30 years.
Somebody has had a word with Amanda and about time too. Whoever let her wear that tactless t-shirt to court should have been sacked on the spot and I’m astonished that she wasn’t told to stop grinning from ear to ear on day one.
It will be interesting to see how Amanda’s mood/observed behaviour in the courtroom changes over the next few weeks.
Lies Our Mothers Told Us 
February 27, 2009 at 11:55 am
Hi Guys,
I’ve very much enjoyed your comments over the last few days!
Just a quick post today and only because I found the sudden display of emotion in Amanda very, very interesting, in terms of this case and the timing of certain events, changes or developments I have become rather cynical I am afraid.
I will be away for the weekend and may not be online much. Will reply to comments/emails sporadically or when I get back on Monday afternoon.
Have a wonderful weekend
Miss Represented 🙂
February 27, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Have a great weekend too Miss Represented!
Everyone take care and watch out for creeps and goofs.
Let’s see what comes up in court this weekend.
February 27, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Miss R,
Thanks for this article, I read it on my phone earlier today which is the treatment reserved for the most important e-mails, so there we are, I have become your avid reader.
I think that Amanda is very confused and disoriented. She is not sure what she needs to do be seen and praised as special. It is visible in her behavioural patterns and even more clearly so in her choice of clothes.
Originally she appeared in court in a stripy top and a hoodie, worn together with jeans, an extremely casual outfit, totally inappropriate for a young woman to wear at a hearing.
There were comments on the internet about her casual style, some people saw it as a sign of disrespect for the court and for the victim, so clearly, in the eyes of many she got it completely wrong.
Then, she made a U turn and her next appearance was in a mauve twin set with a necklace with a massive pendant, quite conventional, yet I was not sure about the colour and the pendant was totally wrong, a complete distraction. That was the kind of outfit her grandmother would probably wear to a lunch out.
The next one was white shirt, navy cardi, simple and suitable.
Then, it was THAT tee. (I watched the video of her being led into the courtroom on that day, with her bottle of mineral water, herpes and all, she started laughing when passing by her lawyers and then continued laughing all the way until she was seated.)
Having seen her outfits, one can really ask who Amanda Knox is.
A lot has been written (and heard in the courtroom) about Amanda’s lack of emotional response. I think she understood it was not seen as favourable, so she is trying out something else.
Sadly, to her the different types of behaviour seem like different outfits, so she might keep changing them until she thinks she has got it right.
Have a lovely weekend everyone,
P.
February 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm
When I read the Telegraph newspaper article, that is exactly what I thought: “A crack in the armour or a bid to assure …. the jury she is responding emotionally to what is happening around her?”. And I wondered if Miss R was going to blog about that. Yup.
Off topic questions: What was the amount of time lapse between AK knowing that Lumbumba was charged and put in jail, and her retraction of her confession that he had no involvement in the crime? Did AK retract her accusation PRIOR or AFTER Guede was arrested? (I know I can find this info on PMF but it would take me forever to find it in the voluminous info that is there). Thanks.
February 27, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I found it ironic that the stripes of the “stripy top” were black & white: The involuntary fashion choice of convicts everywhere.
Also, I’m concerned about the difference between cold sores and an std. I was under the impression that they were different strains? Is there a doctor in the house?
February 27, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Hi Kathy,
rough timeline (with room for error)
RHL arrested 11/20/07 (the “fourth” suspect)
PL released (haven’t tracked down exact date but Richard Owen in the London Times reported on 11/22/07 that Pl was released “this week”)
Ak apology in court 11/30/07
Here are a couple articles, taken with the usual grain of salt.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=77697&in_page_id=34
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2980849.ece
February 27, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Herpes Simplex 1 is the oral (cold sore) strain and herpes simplex 2 is the genital strain.
February 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Long ago Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV I) was thought to only be associated with cold sores and HSV II to be only associated with genital herpes. Now, while still not as prevalent as the aforementioned, you can have cold sores that are caused by HSV II and genital herpes caused by HSV1. Oral sex can be a source of transmission.
February 27, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Thanks for the sores update.
I want a shower now.
February 27, 2009 at 7:15 pm
That was funny Shirley 🙂
February 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm
… wow. It’s a good thing I wasn’t planning on any shagging this weekend, all this talk of genital herpes, man, hahaha, damn, put me off sex for weeks!
I’m keen to see video footage of Knox’s crying (man that sounds weird, just to give me a better idea of how genuine the emotion might be / how good the act is (I give points for effort, hehe)
Have an awesome weekend ya’all, look forward to your next blog post Miss Rep’, note to all: don’t let anyone with a cold sore go down on you, mehehehe!
February 27, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Hi all. Some interesting evidence was offered today. I’m sure this will be expanded over time.
What I’m finding even more interesting is how the trial is being reported in the media. One thing you would expect of crime reporters is to be able to relate the facts of the case accurately. After all a lot of comments on blogs like these are based on what they have heard or read in the ‘official’ news media.
With that said, how did this hopelessly inaccurate TV report get through the sub editors?
NBC Today show:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/29426226#29426226
At least two things struck me with this report:
* Stephanie Gosk (NBC reporter on the scene at Perugia) saying that the lead investigator didn’t enter the crime scene initially due to ‘his hair being dirty’. The reporter says this with an incredulous expression and tone in her voice.
* Dan Abhams (NBC “Chief Legal Analyst”) dismisses the DNA evidence on the knife as it was a knife “that was found in her home”.
My understanding of the case so far was that the lead investigator didn’t enter the cottage initially due to him having a haircut.
I was also under the impression that the knife with the DNA was found in Sollecito’s appartment.
If that isn’t the case then some serious misreporting has been going on. Dan Abrams acts incredulous that they are treating the knife with suspicion as it was always used in Meredith’s and Knox’s cottage, and if that is the case then who can blame him?
If those two ‘facts’ are correct (particularly the second one) then I’ve been reading the wrong blogs and news outlets.
If the ‘facts’ are incorrect then it paints a very distorted picture of the reporting of this case by supposedly unbiased news journalists.
I hope this can be clarified by someone here with more experience of the background to this case.
February 27, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Foysal Ahmed, were you really planning to “shag” this weekend and got put off by a post on cold sores? Don’t worry you’ll lose your virginity one day.
February 27, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Foysal Ahmed said … wow. It’s a good thing I wasn’t planning on any shagging this weekend-
Not to worry. I’m sure you’ll lose your virginity one day.
February 27, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Mr. P,
I’ve never heard or read of the DNA knife (or contaminated with DNA knife) being found anywhere but Sollecito’s apt.
I’ve never heard or read anything about the lead investigator’s hair…but I might’ve missed that article. If it’s true, about the hair-cut, I’d say it contradicts the claims of incompetence: not wanting to shed hairs on the crime scene sounds pretty conscientious to me.
I’m at work so can’t watch the video you refer to (perhaps I’m being spared the histrionics) but based on your comments, I find it telling they are focusing on these things instead of, say, evidence of an alibi. One thing I’ve learned following this case is that innocence also requires evidence.
February 27, 2009 at 11:08 pm
In reply to Kathy: As far as I am aware, Knox did not formally retract her accusation of Patrick until after Guede was apprehended. Patrick spent about two weeks in jail.
In reply to Mr. P: It was a hair cut, not dirty hair, that kept the lead investigator from Rome out of the cottage.
NBC did an absolutely horrible job of reporting this morning. In fact, most if not all of NBC’s morning program coverage of this case has been appalling.
February 27, 2009 at 11:57 pm
“NBC did an absolutely horrible job of reporting this morning. In fact, most if not all of NBC’s morning program coverage of this case has been appalling.”
Skeptical Bystander:
Do you think the fault lies with the correspondent in Italy who gathers the information? I do. She, like many others there on the scene can’t even pronounce Raffele’s surname properly. She’s been there covering the case in Perugia how long and she doesn’t know how to pronounce his name? (The accent is on the second syllable, not third as many reporters presume.)
February 28, 2009 at 12:30 am
Hahaha, touche Ms Kittens. Having a bad day eh? Hmm… I’m curious, do you assume that because I have a boyish sense of humour I’m a boy in every respect? I’m afraid as they say you simply make as ass of you & me with your cheeky asides for you see I was just suprised that in this day & age someone of an intelligence enough to be participating in a discussion of this type wouldn’t know how herpes is transmitted & that you can get type 2 from people with type 1 on their lips.
I suppose though that my my particular reaction to all the herpes talk is because I’m very STD paranoid. We do live in an age where young people have become significantly more promiscuous & experienced without the appropriate maturity or education to live such a lifestyle safely. That combined with the fact that I know what I’m like when I’m intoxicated (more mature & better behaved than the majority of people my age/younger & safer to).leads me t have a low opinion of people like Amanda who quite happily spread the disease with their irresponsible behaviour.
February 28, 2009 at 12:32 am
sorry, virus even, not disease.
February 28, 2009 at 1:00 am
Shouldn’t generalise
February 28, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Ich denke, zum Thema Lippenbläschen ist jetzt genug gesagt worden.
April 7, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Gosh, what has happened to the tears? Haven’t seen them recently, have we?