The Trials of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito: Part 25

[bagels]

Rudy actually already came up with the best possible PGP theory, which is he was there inadvertently while on a date with Meredith.

There is no other way to get him there during the murder while Amanda is butchering away at her roommate, which is why nobody else has tried.

 

[Stacyhs]

Guede will never tell the truth. Unlike one of the comments quoted above, there is every reason for him to stick with his "I was there on a date and AK and RS killed Meredith and I'm just the poor victim of racism" story: some people believe him. Admitting he killed Meredith does nothing for him and if there is one thing about Guede I think most everyone agrees on, it's that he will do whatever is best for him regardless of the consequences. His entire life reflects that attitude.

 

[bagels]

Guede will never tell the truth. Unlike one of the comments quoted above, there is every reason for him to stick with his "I was there on a date and AK and RS killed Meredith and I'm just the poor victim of racism" story: some people believe him. Admitting he killed Meredith does nothing for him and if there is one thing about Guede I think most everyone agrees on, it's that he will do whatever is best for him regardless of the consequences. His entire life reflects that attitude.

The PGP are anxiously hoping for some elaborate Guede story that puts all the pieces together for them.

The funny thing is he very obviously more or less gave it when he was talking to his friend on Skype before he knew he was about to be arrested or that anyone else was listening:

I was there alone with Meredith. I wasn't there with anyone I know. There was no Amanda. Meredith was attacked with a knife. I was there with her as she died, alone.

That's the story, straight from the horses mouth. A sadly pedestrian crime, too boring and pedestrian for some.

 

[acbytesla]

The PGP are anxiously hoping for some elaborate Guede story that puts all the pieces together for them.

The funny thing is he very obviously more or less gave it when he was talking to his friend on Skype before he knew he was about to be arrested or that anyone else was listening:

I was there alone with Meredith. I wasn't there with anyone I know. There was no Amanda. Meredith was attacked with a knife. I was there with her as she died, alone.

That's the story, straight from the horses mouth. A sadly pedestrian crime, too boring and pedestrian for some.

So bizarre when you think about it. I think back on that kiss between Amanda and Raffaele. I'd love it if Amanda wrote another book, not so much about her ordeal but about the pure insanity of not just the case but the social media and insanity of the investigation. And I think it should be titled 'It started with a kiss'.

I have often believed that this all wouldn't have happened if Amanda and Raffaele weren't caught on television sharing that absurd little kiss. There is no getting around that the kiss at that moment did not play well and made everyone suspect them including me.

It was as if that was a gunshot for every one who valued their gut reaction over evidence.

If not for that, my guess is that they never would have undergone such intense interrogations and there never would have been arrests and this mundane murder would have barely made the news.

I want her to write another book and have it centered on how this changed her life. How she has been treated and how she has dealt with being someone who was once accused of a horrible crime.

 

[Stacyhs]

So bizarre when you think about it. I think back on that kiss between Amanda and Raffaele. I'd love it if Amanda wrote another book, not so much about her ordeal but about the pure insanity of not just the case but the social media and insanity of the investigation. And I think it should be titled 'It started with a kiss'.

I have often believed that this all wouldn't have happened if Amanda and Raffaele weren't caught on television sharing that absurd little kiss. There is no getting around that the kiss at that moment did not play well and made everyone suspect them including me. It was as if that was a gunshot for every one who valued their gut reaction over evidence.

If not for that, my guess is that they never would have undergone such intense interrogations and there never would have been arrests and this mundane murder would have barely made the news.

I want her to write another book and have it centered on how this changed her life. How she has been treated and how she has dealt with being someone who was once accused of a horrible crime.

From the first time I saw that video...not just the edited version and still pictures shown by the media...I didn't understand how anyone could see that as odd or in any way sexual. All I had to see was the look on both their faces, but especially Amanda's, to understand that it was nothing more than a comforting gesture. Raffaele was completely somber and Amanda just looked in shock.

 

[whoanellie]

From the first time I saw that video...not just the edited version and still pictures shown by the media...I didn't understand how anyone could see that as odd or in any way sexual. All I had to see was the look on both their faces, but especially Amanda's, to understand that it was nothing more than a comforting gesture. Raffaele was completely somber and Amanda just looked in shock.

I agree.

 

[acbytesla]

From the first time I saw that video...not just the edited version and still pictures shown by the media...I didn't understand how anyone could see that as odd or in any way sexual. All I had to see was the look on both their faces, but especially Amanda's, to understand that it was nothing more than a comforting gesture. Raffaele was completely somber and Amanda just looked in shock.

Of course you are right, particularly if you kept it in context. I'm just saying it played as horribly inappropriate. Who's to say, just how many minutes or hours of video taken but the news report showed those 30 seconds over and over and over again.

Or do you think my assessment is wrong and I'm exaggerating it's impact on what followed?

 

[whoanellie]

Of course you are right, particularly if you kept it in context. I'm just saying it played as horribly inappropriate. Who's to say, just how many minutes or hours of video taken but the news report showed those 30 seconds over and over and over again.

Or do you think my assessment is wrong and I'm exaggerating it's impact on what followed?

I believe the first I heard of this case was from watching a "Dateline" or "48 Hours". During the show I turned to my wife and said of the case against AK and RS "This just makes no sense" and I still believe that. My first reaction to the kissing video was that the couple was shocked and devastated and that RS was just comforting AK. There was nothing sinister or sexual in their body language and I did not think it was inappropriate at all. Nonetheless much was made of the kiss and I believe it did have an impact on the opinion of many. Who knows whether it had an impact on the Italian authorities?

 

[Stacyhs]

Of course you are right, particularly if you kept it in context. I'm just saying it played as horribly inappropriate. Who's to say, just how many minutes or hours of video taken but the news report showed those 30 seconds over and over and over again.

Or do you think my assessment is wrong and I'm exaggerating it's impact on what followed?

Yes, I agree with you that it negatively and unfairly affected the public's perception of the couple, especially Amanda at the very beginning of the investigation.

It played as "horribly inappropriate" only because of how it was shown by the media. It's akin to the "I was there" (at Raff's vs. her apt.) story which completely misrepresented what Amanda was actually saying. The UK tabloid coverage was especially egregious when they used the term "canoodling" (making out) and edited the video only to the actual 3 pecks without showing the rest of it which gave a truer picture. I understand that that particular short sequence was repeated over and over which made it even worse. I think this incident is an excellent example of the tabloid media putting sales/money ahead of truth...and hacks like Nick Pisa were more than happy to oblige.

 

[acbytesla]

Yes, I agree with you that it negatively and unfairly affected the public's perception of the couple, especially Amanda at the very beginning of the investigation.

It played as "horribly inappropriate" only because of how it was shown by the media. It's akin to the "I was there" (at Raff's vs. her apt.) story which completely misrepresented what Amanda was actually saying. The UK tabloid coverage was especially egregious when they used the term "canoodling" (making out) and edited the video only to the actual 3 pecks without showing the rest of it which gave a truer picture. I understand that that particular short sequence was repeated over and over which made it even worse. I think this incident is an excellent example of the tabloid media putting sales/money ahead of truth...and "journalists" like Nick Pisa were more than happy to oblige.

Imagine what we would have felt if they just hugged. It would have been seen very differently. Simply comfort from a friend. Three tiny little pecks made a very different perception.

And that made people's imagination run wild. Which created an oversized interest. Really bizarre what sets us off.

 

[Stacyhs]

Imagine what we would have felt if they just hugged. It would have been seen very differently. Simply comfort from a friend. Three tiny little pecks made a very different perception.

And that made people's imagination run wild. Which created an oversized interest. Really bizarre what sets us off.

If the media had handled it differently it would not have had the same reaction from the public. If they had presented it as "She was seen being comforted by Sollecito outside the scene of the crime" instead of "She was seen canoodling with Sollecito outside the scene of the crime..." as the DM reported, it would have created a completely different impression. To say the reporting created a negative bias is based on many examples like this although the PGP will argue the opposite.

 

[Bill Williams]

If the media had handled it differently it would not have had the same reaction from the public. If they had presented it as "She was seen being comforted by Sollecito outside the scene of the crime" instead of "She was seen canoodling with Sollecito outside the scene of the crime..." as the DM reported, it would have created a completely different impression. To say the reporting created a negative bias is based on many examples like this although the PGP will argue the opposite.

Back in Aug 2011 when I stumbled on this case, I unfortunately stumbled first on to the hate sites. They'd made great mileage out out AK and RS being so disrespectful of the murder, that the two of them were busy making out at the crime scene - purposely attracting the attention of police from the beginning.

Of course, it was confusing to see the actual footage. They were obviously not making out. I'd thought that the hate sites must have been referring to some other footage.

Putting aside the lurid connotations, it was then pointed out from an evidentiary point of view, that the haters wanted AK and RS to be seen by police as suspicious, and obviously suspicious from the git-go.......

..... but also wanted Knox at interrogation 3 1/2 days later not to be seen as a suspect, because Knox had not been provided a lawyer. All of a sudden Knox only became a suspect when blurting out Lumumba's name, with the cops bearing no responsibility for their gaffe over the SMS exchange.

It's how the haters roll. Willful canoodling at a crimescene is suddenly forgotten by the time interrogation rolls around.

 

[Kestrel]

From the first time I saw that video...not just the edited version and still pictures shown by the media...I didn't understand how anyone could see that as odd or in any way sexual. All I had to see was the look on both their faces, but especially Amanda's, to understand that it was nothing more than a comforting gesture. Raffaele was completely somber and Amanda just looked in shock.

it just looked like someone trying to comfort a distraught friend to me. In TV dramas grieving humans all follow the same script. In real life it doesn't work that way.

The tabloid media are experts at showing "evidence" and telling the audience what it proves. But their real goal isn't finding the truth, it is creating a story that will attract readers or viewers. Portraying a pretty young lady as a sex crazed killer will attract an audience. A burglary gone wrong that turns in rape and murder is too mundane.

 

[Chris_Halkides]

As time goes by

Kestrel,

Good to see you again. When I told a friend about this case, he remembered the kiss as one in which Ms. Knox's leg was wildly up in the air. When I showed him the tape (so to speak), he changed his view of the case. Funny thing, memory. A kiss is just a kiss.

 

[acbytesla]

Kestrel,

Good to see you again. When I told a friend about this case, he remembered the kiss as one in which Ms. Knox's leg was wildly up in the air. When I showed him the tape (so to speak), he changed his view of the case. Funny thing, memory. A kiss is just a kiss.

And a sigh is just a sigh.

 

[Stacyhs]

it just looked like someone trying to comfort a distraught friend to me. In TV dramas grieving humans all follow the same script. In real life it doesn't work that way. The tabloid media are experts at showing "evidence" and telling the audience what it proves. But their real goal isn't finding the truth, it is creating a story that will attract readers or viewers. Portraying a pretty young lady as a sex crazed killer will attract an audience. A burglary gone wrong that turns in rape and murder is too mundane.

Isn't that the truth! If anyone remembers the old Mary Tyler Moore show, a classic episode is the one in which she goes to Chuckles the Clown's funeral. She gets the giggles and can't help herself no matter how hard she tries not to laugh. My sister has always reacted oddly to pain. When she gets hurt, she laughs. Anyone who doesn't know her would see this as very odd.

The stages of grief are pretty much common to everyone but the order is not. What I saw in Amanda was first shock/disbelief, then grief as she cried outside the cottage and again in the car on the way to the questura as all three were testified to by Luca Altieri. He also testified that Sollecito was consoling her both outside the cottage and in the car. He never mentioned any "canoodling" or inappropriate behavior. At the questura her grief and shock turned to anger as evidenced by her exchange with the British girls about Meredith's throat being cut. All of her reactions were perfectly normal yet she is portrayed as "canoodling", being a cold, heartless "B" because she never cried, and being insensitive and unnatural (read that "guilty") regarding her angry outburst about how Meredith died.

 

[acbytesla]

Isn't that the truth! If anyone remembers the old Mary Tyler Moore show, a classic episode is the one in which she goes to Chuckles the Clown's funeral. She gets the giggles and can't help herself no matter how hard she tries not to laugh. My sister has always reacted oddly to pain. When she gets hurt, she laughs. Anyone who doesn't know her would see this as very odd.

The stages of grief are pretty much common to everyone but the order is not. What I saw in Amanda was first shock/disbelief, then grief as she cried outside the cottage and again in the car on the way to the questura as all three were testified to by Luca Altieri. He also testified that Sollecito was consoling her both outside the cottage and in the car. He never mentioned any "canoodling" or inappropriate behavior. At the questura her grief and shock turned to anger as evidenced by her exchange with the British girls about Meredith's throat being cut. All of her reactions were perfectly normal yet she is portrayed as "canoodling", being a cold, heartless "B" because she never cried, and being insensitive and unnatural (read that "guilty") regarding her angry outburst about how Meredith died.

'A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.'

 

[Wilson85]

Portraying a pretty young lady as a sex crazed killer will attract an audience. A burglary gone wrong that turns in rape and murder is too mundane.

the haters wanted AK and RS to be seen by police as suspicious, and obviously suspicious from the git-go.......

..... but also wanted Knox at interrogation 3 1/2 days later not to be seen as a suspect, because Knox had not been provided a lawyer.

Another example of the PGP double standard: PGP refuse it was a burglary gone wrong and turned into murder. PGP claim that Rudy Guede had no recorded history of burglary. Rudy Guede was caught by police in Milan with stolen goods from Perugia. PGP can't (don't want) make the connection here. They accept Rudy's flimsy excuse that he had bought this stuff from a market in Milan. But when asking for the violent history of Amanda Knox the PGP have to resort stories from a noise ticket or homework essay...

 

[Stacyhs]

Another example of the PGP double standard: PGP refuse it was a burglary gone wrong and turned into murder. PGP claim that Rudy Guede had no recorded history of burglary. Rudy Guede was caught by police in Milan with stolen goods from Perugia. PGP can't (don't want) make the connection here. They accept Rudy's flimsy excuse that he had bought this stuff from a market in Milan. But when asking for the violent history of Amanda Knox the PGP have to resort stories from a noise ticket or homework essay...

What I've seen the PGP claim is that Guede had no convictions for burglary which is, of course, playing word games.

Not only was Guede caught with the stolen goods from the law office, but he had also stolen a knife from the school kitchen and had it in his backpack. That alone proves he was a thief.

 

[TruthCalls]

What I've seen the PGP claim is that Guede had no convictions for burglary which is, of course, playing word games.

Not only was Guede caught with the stolen goods from the law office, but he had also stolen a knife from the school kitchen and had it in his backpack. That alone proves he was a thief.

It's all a matter of perspective...

During the search of his backpack at the nursery school police not only found the knife from the school, the laptop and cell phone from Paolo Brocchi's office, but they also found a gold watch similar to the one stolen from Guede's neighbor. And not to be forgotten is that he broke into Christian Tramontano's home, witnessed by both Christian and his girlfriend, and when confronted by Christian, Guede pulled a pocket knife on him.

But he had no convictions so it's only fair he be considered an upstanding young man.

Amanda, otoh, was an excellent student. She worked three jobs so she could pay her own way to Perugia. She held down a job in Perugia while still attending college. She had plenty of money in the bank and was recently dating someone from a well to do family.

But Amanda was issued a citation for a loud party so it's only fair she be considered an evil bitch.

Speaking of double standards...

Christian Tramontano and his girlfriend Monika both witness Guede breaking into their place, with Guede pulling a knife on Christian. That very evening Christian sees Guede at the Domus club and mentions it to several people. Two months later, after seeing Guede's picture in the news as a suspect in the murder, Christian goes to the police and reports Guede breaking into his place. His testimony is dismissed. Compare this to Quintavalle, who doesn't report anything to the police until a year after the murder and only on the behest of a reporter. He tells police his epiphany is the result of a picture of Amanda in the news. This testimony is considered indisputable. Now THAT'S what I call a double standard.