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Amanda Knox found guilty of murder again by Italian Court

Here's an excellent article that reintroduces us to the forgotten element of the case - the victim.

I have a feeling about the guilt or innocence of Solecito and Knox, but as this article points out, I, and those others with strong opinions on the matter, may need to identify where those feelings are coming from.
 
The Polanski case is totally different since the victim in that case forgave Polanski and wanted the charged against him dropped, however the brain-starved loony CA DA wanted to drag out the saga again anyway, forcing Samantha to testify and re-live the whole thing even though she wanted nothing to do w/it.

Irrelevant. The guy already confessed to it and plead guilty.

Besides, last I knew lots of people still get charged with crimes regardless if the victim wants to let it go or not. And child rape should never be let go.
 
I remember a case where someone in the US killed a woman and escaped to Europe. He was arraigned, skipped bail and later tried in absentia and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was later found in France. The French courts ruled that he could not be extradited to the US because he could be subject to the death penalty even though he was already sentenced to life without parole. They invented law in the US that doesn't exist.

Ira Einhorn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
I remember a case where someone in the US killed a woman and escaped to Europe. He was arraigned, skipped bail and later tried in absentia and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was later found in France. The French courts ruled that he could not be extradited to the US because he could be subject to the death penalty even though he was already sentenced to life without parole. They invented law in the US that doesn't exist.

Ira Einhorn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And yet, after just 4 years of legal proceedings, he was extradited back to the US. What's your point in reminding us of this case?
 
And yet, after just 4 years of legal proceedings, he was extradited back to the US. What's your point in reminding us of this case?

Trials of foreign nationals can be very complex with legal principles in both countries being applied. Well, except in the case of Einhorn who wasn't going to be extradited because of the death penalty in the US which could not have been applied because Pennsylvania didn't have the death penalty.
 
It's the Italian legal system's fault that justice will never be done, Knox being guilty or not.

Oh noes, she can never leave America. Do you think she's ever want to after what happened?
 
How about getting to the truth? I think that's more important than preserving some ideal of double jeopardy.

The cards are stacked obscenely in favor of the government if for no other reason than they have a practically unlimited supply of money and manpower to achieve a conviction. If the people can't get a conviction the first time around they don't deserve a do over.
 
The cards are stacked obscenely in favor of the government if for no other reason than they have a practically unlimited supply of money and manpower to achieve a conviction. If the people can't get a conviction the first time around they don't deserve a do over.

But they got a conviction the first time around... and all that is in the appeal process now, with the first appeal freeing her on technicalities but the second appeal agreeing with the original conviction.
 
I'm a free-thinking man free of the burden of any borders.

I believe what my logic and reasoning lead me to believe. And that is, there are times that double jeopardy is just fine.

What if you try someone for murder and they're found innocent, but later new evidence arises.... a new witness, new DNA techniques, something of that ilk... so that you're now fairly certain the killer went free.

In such a case, it's my opinion that there should be a re-trial.

Now that said, you shouldn't be able to re-try over and over again on the same evidence. That would lead to witch hunts. But there are times when it is appropriate.

and in this case, there is no such evidence whatsoever
 
But they got a conviction the first time around... and all that is in the appeal process now, with the first appeal freeing her on technicalities but the second appeal agreeing with the original conviction.

I'm interested to know more about why the second appeal agreed with the original conviction. It's an interesting case and I feel for the victims family having this drama played out over and over.
 
I'm interested to know more about why the second appeal agreed with the original conviction. It's an interesting case and I feel for the victims family having this drama played out over and over.

politics, pure politics. The Italian decision said there was additional evidence NOT presented to the jury that if the JURY heard it would support conviction.

I handled a hundred+ serious federal criminal appeals. The rights American defendants have is far far higher than what goes on in most countries. Is our system perfect-of course not, but federal defendants whom were pretty obviously guilty have walked dozens of times because the Courts prevent the DOJ from presenting all the evidence etc
 
She would be apprehended by local police on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice or, were she silly enough to set foot in the EU, subject to a European Arrest Warrant.

I'm betting the whole incident has soured her a bit on foreign travel anyway.
 
The cards are stacked obscenely in favor of the government if for no other reason than they have a practically unlimited supply of money and manpower to achieve a conviction. If the people can't get a conviction the first time around they don't deserve a do over.

That's an excellent point. I've never thought of it that way before. I'd have to say I agree.
 
The cards are stacked obscenely in favor of the government if for no other reason than they have a practically unlimited supply of money and manpower to achieve a conviction.

In those countries where Double Jeopardy is not an absolute principle, it is nevertheless extremely difficult for the state to make a case unless new evidence comes to light.
If the people can't get a conviction the first time around they don't deserve a do over.
Not even if new evidence is unearthed?
 
The DA considered himself under obligation to put Polanski on trial if he could

Which is why he's an idiot.

and just because the victim has forgiven Polanski that is not a reason not to do a trial.

It is.

The whole purpose of justice in a rape is compensating the victim. So if the victim doesn't care, then it's waste of the public's time and resources for an elected official to prosecute, when there are more pressing cases waiting to be prosecuted.

The decision showed severe lack of judgement and maturity on the part of the prosecutor. Emphasis on maturity.
 
Irrelevant. The guy already confessed to it and plead guilty.

Besides, last I knew lots of people still get charged with crimes regardless if the victim wants to let it go or not.

Indeed, they get charged by idiot prosecutors who waste $$ and time when there other millions of cases (where the victim wants justice) to be prosecuted.

And child rape should never be let go.

That's why the victim's wishes must be respected, instead of dragging her through another nightmare.
 
politics, pure politics. The Italian decision said there was additional evidence NOT presented to the jury that if the JURY heard it would support conviction.

I handled a hundred+ serious federal criminal appeals. The rights American defendants have is far far higher than what goes on in most countries. Is our system perfect-of course not, but federal defendants whom were pretty obviously guilty have walked dozens of times because the Courts prevent the DOJ from presenting all the evidence etc

That was all under the corrupt American system, and therefore irrelevant..
 
Amanda Knox found guilty of murder again by Italian court - CNN.com

apparently she was sentenced to 28.5 years

of course she isn't in Italy

I think the verdict is more of a condemnation of the laughably inept, corrupt and completely dysfunctional Italian justice system.

One former prosecutor doubts the USA would grant extradition given the double jeopardy argument


I followed this trial pretty closely and read numerous reviews. Based on what I learned, I would have "Rule 29'd" the case. (meaning grant the defense a directed verdict at the close of the prosecution case). The Prosecution was a joke in this matter

I like one of the comments at the bottom of the article that really says it all:

A country that imprisons earthquake scientists for manslaughter for failing to predict an earthquake cannot really be taken too seriously.
 
It's being suggested by some News Sources today that Knox will be extradited from the US to Italy, should the Italians request extradition.???

US Legal experts have already made it clear that the United States entered into an extradition treaty with Italy and, in doing so, accepted Italy's criminal justice system. Failure to extradite Knox may have implications for the treaty as a whole. However the case is going back to Italy's Court of Appeal for a final time, and extradition will not be sought just yet.

Amanda Knox 'Will Be Extradited By US'

Amanda Knox 'would have to be handed over to Italy' if appeal fails | Mail Online

The US Will Extradite Amanda Knox To Italy - Business Insider

The BBC Review the evidence in respect of the Meredith Kercher murder case here -

BBC News - Amanda Knox appeal: Reviewing the murder case evidence
 
For people who come from free countries, the US is indeed like a prison.

Could you enlighten me as to which, in the wacky world of Libertarians, are the 'free' countries? Would those be the ones with no government - like, say, Somalia?
 
So in fact, no Americans are "in custody" for kidnapping an Egyptian cleric in Italy. You... were mistaken. :lol:



First, you have offered no link to support your contention. Second, I have offered a link which supports that Polanski had no trial, because he pleaded guilty to the charges! Roman Polanski - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia So there was no trial/conviction/sentence... because he pleaded guilty to drugging and raping a 13-yr-old girl, then fled the country before his sentence could be imposed.



Wow. Is that a personal attack because you cannot refute the facts I have presented to you? Hmm. It seems so to me.

In what universe? You attack me, falsely, claiming I "consistently opine" that American justice sucks, with zero evidence to back up your personal attack on me and when I call you on it you claim I'm personally attacking you - bait much??

Secondly, I didn't claim that soldiers were in custody - I asked the question "aren't there soldiers in custody?" - there's a difference you might not understand. In my second response to you I did correct it to CIA agents rather than soldiers - I find it remarkable that you wouldn't have even heard about the incident.

As for Polanski, the outcome was as I stated - he pled guilty to a lesser charge - not "charges", as you falsely claim - he did not, as you falsely claim, plead guilty to "drugging and raping a 13-yr-old girl" - he pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse - a far different an far lesser charge - and after pre-sentencing evaluation, in which all parties recommended probation, his lawyers were informed, by the judge, that his sentence would include jail time and deportation so he fled.

So we can play semantic games and we can play "gotcha" if you want - the basic facts and outcomes are the same. Had your purpose been a discussion of the issues rather than a blatant attack on me personally, that would have been evident.
 
But they got a conviction the first time around... and all that is in the appeal process now, with the first appeal freeing her on technicalities but the second appeal agreeing with the original conviction.

Plus, she's an American! Reason enough to haul her ass to jail, right Pete?
 
As an American, I'll be the first to admit that our justice system is a joke. I'm not a fan. I also think patriotism is retarded.

However, I don't know a thing about the Italian justice system so I can't say if it's any better or worse. I'm honestly not interested in knowing either because it's not something that will ever affect me.

Also, for anyone to be bitching about America not extraditing this woman when you have Roman Polanski sitting in France sipping wine is hypocritical.

What we need to do, and this goes for both the Europeans and Americans, is quit doing our "ra ra" patriotism gig, and quit refusing to extradite criminals because we believe our own courts are superior to everyone else's.

I have no time for that.

What we need to do is worry about getting to the truth. Did Polansky rape a 13 year old girl? Yes, so he should be punished. Simple.

It's not that simple--punishment is inappropriate if the victim of a rape doesn't ask for it. Samantha doesn't want Polanski to be punished anymore, and doesn't want to relive any of that event so that's that.

The Swiss were wise and respected her wishes, while some loons in the US wanted a show trial to get the CA DA some international publicity.

Polanski himself can't be too critical of the US justice system, however, considering Manson is behind bars for life.
 
Plus, she's an American! Reason enough to haul her ass to jail, right Pete?

Totally irrelevant what nationality she is. Her then boyfriend also got convicted and is in custody. The victim was British, why no compassion for her and her family?
 
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