Slain Woman's Dad Slams Amanda Knox, Family

[bbeba103]

Slain Woman's Dad Slams Amanda Knox, Family

(Dec. 3) -- The parents of Amanda Knox reacted swiftly today to an angry and impassioned article written by the father of Meredith Kercher criticizing them impassioned article written by the father of Meredith Kercher criticizing them for never expressing condolences for the death of his daughter.

John Kercher, a veteran freelance journalist, also said it is agonizing to relive his daughter's murder over and over in the media and left no doubt that he firmly believes in Knox's guilt.

In response, Curt Knox and his ex-wife, Edda Mellas, issued a statement expressing sympathy for the Kerchers and explaining that they've never reached out personally to them because "we did not want to add to their grief."

Mellas also addressed the issue today on KIRO Radio in Seattle saying the Kerchers do not "know the whole story." She said they were not in court except for a few days during Amanda's trial and feels that they fell "hook, line and sinker" for what their lawyer and prosecutors told them. "They may not have the whole picture," she said.

In a piece published Thursday in the Daily Mail, Kercher wrote of the renewed anguish he felt watching Knox's parents profess Amanda's innocence on a recent British TV show.

Kercher said the couple "have never expressed their condolences to our family for our grievous loss. There has been no letter of sympathy; no word of regret. Instead, I have watched them repeatedly reiterate the mantra of their daughter's innocence."

In the meantime, he said, Knox has become a "minor celebrity" as a result of his daughter's brutal murder. Kercher made it clear that he does not agree with the Knox family and supporters of Amanda who believe she is innocent.

"To many she seems an unlikely killer," Kercher wrote. "Yet to my family, she s, unequivocally, culpable. As far as we are concerned, she has been convicted of taking our precious Meredith's life in the most hideous and bloody way.

Kercher also said he dreads the second round of reminders of Kercher's brutal death expected during the upcoming appeal of Knox's murder brutal death expected during the upcoming appeal of Knox's murder conviction.

"This appeal, like the initial court case, will drag on for months, while the dark tunnel between my family and our ­ability to grieve for Meredith in peace becomes ever long," he wrote.

Amanda Knox, now 23, and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted along with a third man, Rudy Guede, of murdering Kercher, 21, in Perugia, Italy in 2007. Kercher, of Coulsdon, England, and Knox, from Seattle Perugia, Italy in 2007. Kercher, of Coulsdon, England, and Knox, from Seattle were in Italy for a year of study and shared a house.

Knox is serving a 26-year prison sentence. An appeal of her case is expected to begin next week.

Knox's parents said in their statement that they have not reached out personally to the Kercher family because they felt it might be "disrespectful."

"We cannot imagine the agony and suffering experienced by the Kercher cannot fathom the depth of such a loss of their daughter, Meredith," they said. "As parents, we have always felt and expressed when asked, the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family."

"We have always said that we would reach out to them at the appropriate time," the statement continued. "We haven't felt the time was appropriate until, at least, Amanda's trial and appeals have come to a conclusion."

Though Kercher's attack on the Knox family was the most explosive part of his article, the majority of it focused on his mourning over his daughter and his wish to "celebrate" her life, not be drawn back in the web of lurid headlines.

"Meredith was the baby of the family," he wrote. "Her mum, her siblings and we would all prefer to obliterate from our minds. All we want now is the peace to be able to celebrate her life. Is that too much to ask?"

http://m.aol.com/news/default/dlDetails ... ullpic(1:6)

[zed]

This is absurd: "Mellas also addressed the issue today on KIRO Radio in Seattle saying the Kerchers do not "know the whole story." She said they were not in court except for a few days during Amanda's trial and feels that they fell "hook, line and sinker" for what their lawyer and prosecutors told them. "They may not have the whole picture," she said. "

Who is he trying to blame for not having the decency to write a letter of condolence? They are blaming the Kerchers for not attending every day of the trial? And Mellas did? Sure he did, but he doesn't speak a word of Italian and neither does Edda. Being there does not mean that they had any better understanding through their lawyer than the Kerchers did through their lawyer. Mellas is suggesting that the Kerchers got it all wrong because they didn't sit in court twiddling their thumbs, oblivious to the Italian language proceedings, like Amanda's family? Actually, Meredith's sister is fluent in Italian, and I think there are more Italian speakers in the family, so they were able to read the news and also be informed about the proceedings through their lawyer.

He is actually blaming the victim's family for his, Edda's and Curt's failure to express condolences.

What a first rate loser.

[zed]

"We have always said that we would reach out to them at the appropriate time," the statement continued. "We haven't felt the time was appropriate until, at least, Amanda's trial and appeals have come to a conclusion."

That's another joke, no doubt. Who decided that the appropriate time to express condolences is on their terms, and not those of the family whose daughter was murdered. Surely, in those first days when Edda was hanging around town, and Amanda was detained until further evidence was presented in court, Edda could have found it in her to express condolences. After all, she thought Amanda was innocent and it would all be cleared up in a couple of days.

Is there any particular reason that anyone can think of for US media posting pictures of Meredith in her halloween costume? I think that's weird. Either Meredith should be portrayed like she appeared every day, or Amanda should also be portrayed in a halloween costume. It seems so incredibly disrespectful of the victim to repeatedly, for years, post her image in a halloween costume as though that is how she looked.

[Emily]

This is absurd: "Mellas also addressed the issue today on KIRO Radio in Seattle saying the Kerchers do not "know the whole story." She said they were not in court except for a few days during Amanda's trial and feels that they fell "hook, line and sinker" for what their lawyer and prosecutors told them. "They may not have the whole picture," she said. "

Who is he trying to blame for not having the decency to write a letter of condolence? They are blaming the Kerchers for not attending every day of the trial? And Mellas did? Sure he did, but he doesn't speak a word of Italian and neither does Edda. Being there does not mean that they had any better understanding through their lawyer than the Kerchers did through their lawyer. Mellas is suggesting that the Kerchers got it all wrong because they didn't sit in court twiddling their thumbs, oblivious to the Italian language proceedings, like Amanda's family? Actually, Meredith's sister is fluent in Italian, and I think there are more Italian speakers in the family, so they were able to read the news and also be informed about the proceedings through their lawyer.

He is actually blaming the victim's family for his, Edda's and Curt's failure to express condolences.

What a first rate loser.

They said this:

"Knox's parents said in their statement that they have not reached out personally to the Kercher family because they felt it might be "disrespectful."

"We cannot imagine the agony and suffering experienced by the Kercher cannot fathom the depth of such a loss of their daughter, Meredith," they said. "As parents, we have always felt and expressed when asked, the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family."

There's not much else they can say is there? They think their daughter is innocent and the Kerchers don't. The Kerchers would want an apology on Amanda's behalf, an expression of remorse. They can't apologize, they have nothing to apologize for. I can't believe the Kerchers seriously think that Amanda's family should just give up fighting for their daughter just because the process is painful for them, I bet they wouldn't if they were in the Knox's shoes, they wouldn't turn their back on their daughter or believe her capable of murder. By Italian law the guilt of Amanda and Raffaele is not final. They have two automatic appeals.

I don't understand why he wrote this. Many people believe this was a miscarriage of justice and they won't give up fighting because locking up innocent people is not justice for Meredith. People aren't saying she's innocent to rub salt in his wounds or to be spiteful. People defending Amanda aren't attacking Meredith or her family, they know a woman was brutally murdered and she deserves justice.

[zed]

It's pretty clear that Meredith's father only commented that Amanda's parents have failed to express condolences. I see Meredith's father commenting on the media assault - that PR company that Amanda's parents pay - and asking that it stop, not that Amanda's parents stop believing in their daughter.

Below is their statement. Edda Mellas and Curt Knox had four days between learning that Meredith had been murdered and the day that Amanda was first detained. They had another 8 days to express their condolences after Amanda had been detained and before her second court appearance. They supposedly believed that Amanda was innocent, so why did they delay in reaching out? That was quite a lot of time for Edda and Curt to express condolences to the parents of someone they have consistently described as their daughter's good friend.

Amanda Knox's family gave this statement in reply:

"As we have publicly stated many times during interviews with the media, we cannot imagine the agony and suffering experienced by the Kercher family at the loss of their daughter, Meredith. As parents, we cannot fathom the depth of such a loss. We continue to feel the same we have always felt and expressed when asked, the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family.

As we have said before, we have not reached out to the Kercher family because of our deep respect for their loss.

We certainly did not want to add to their grief and given our belief that our daughter is wholly innocent we felt it was more respectful not to do so.

We have always said that we would reach out to them at the appropriate time. We haven't felt the time was appropriate until, at least, Amanda's trial and appeals have come to a conclusion. We believe the facts in the case are still very much in dispute and we obviously believe in Amanda's innocence and that she has been wrongly convicted.

Again, we feel the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family and their loss.

We offer them our most sincere sympathies and wish for peace for their family."

[Emily]

Below is their statement. Edda Mellas and Curt Knox had four days between learning that Meredith had been murdered and the day that Amanda was first detained. They had another 8 days to express their condolences after Amanda had been detained and before her second court appearance. They supposedly believed that Amanda was innocent, so why did they delay in reaching out? That was quite a lot of time for Edda and Curt to express condolences to the parents of someone they have consistently described as their daughter's good friend.

Amanda Knox's family gave this statement in reply:

"As we have publicly stated many times during interviews with the media, we cannot imagine the agony and suffering experienced by the Kercher family at the loss of their daughter, Meredith. As parents, we cannot fathom the depth of such a loss. We continue to feel the same we have always felt and expressed when asked, the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family.

As we have said before, we have not reached out to the Kercher family because of our deep respect for their loss.

We certainly did not want to add to their grief and given our belief that our daughter is wholly innocent we felt it was more respectful not to do so.

We have always said that we would reach out to them at the appropriate time. We haven't felt the time was appropriate until, at least, Amanda's trial and appeals have come to a conclusion. We believe the facts in the case are still very much in dispute and we obviously believe in Amanda's innocence and that she has been wrongly convicted.

Again, we feel the deepest sorrow for the Kercher family and their loss.

We offer them our most sincere sympathies and wish for peace for their family."

They were in America, the family wasn't known to them, why should they contact them...did the other house mates parents make contact with the Kerchers in those first days. Isn't it only because you think Amanda is guilty that they were obligated to speak to them? Amanda was arrested just before the mother got to Italy and was being accused of murder with a great deal of publicity. Once your child is a suspect what are you supposed to say? I wouldn't know.

I'm sure the mothers mind was filled with thoughts of her daughter's problems, she's only human after all. Is there a correct etiquette for the parents of the accused and they should be damned for not knowing it. This is just one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations. I think it's better that they don't meet, sympathy from the parents of an accused killer could be viewed with contempt and of little comfort unless they are admitting guilt of their child.

[Emily]

It's pretty clear that Meredith's father only commented that Amanda's parents have failed to express condolences. I see Meredith's father commenting on the media assault - that PR company that Amanda's parents pay - and asking that it stop, not that Amanda's parents stop believing in their daughter.

He is complaining about the appeal process and how painful it is. He says they want peace and is that too much to ask? Sounds like he wants the family to stop fighting and appealing and to accept their daughters guilt. He feels anguish at their claims of innocence for Amanda. He is talking about his pain and how Amanda's family is making it worse.

[zed]

They were in America, the family wasn't known to them, why should they contact them...did the other house mates parents make contact with the Kerchers in those first days. Isn't it only because you think Amanda is guilty that they were obligated to speak to them? Amanda was arrested just before the mother got to Italy and was being accused of murder with a great deal of publicity. Once your child is a suspect what are you supposed to say? I wouldn't know.

I'm sure the mothers mind was filled with thoughts of her daughter's problems, she's only human after all. Is there a correct etiquette for the parents of the accused and they should be damned for not knowing it. This is just one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations. I think it's better that they don't meet, sympathy from the parents of an accused killer could be viewed with contempt and of little comfort unless they are admitting guilt of their child.

I'm sure Edda was worried about Amanda's lies. She accused an innocent man of murder, and he was thrown in jail. Amanda admitted to her mother that she falsely accused an innocent man, but neither of them did anything to set the record straight. Sure they had problems - self created problems. It's obvious why Edda was not doing the normal things that she should do, and extending condolences to the parents of her daughter's "best friend" ... Edda could already see that Amanda was doing all the things a guilty person does ... but that does not excuse her from being kind and extending condolences.

There were four days between the murder and Amanda being detained. That was four days that condolences could have been given. It is not an excuse to say that they didn't say a word because they were in the US as this is a global community (not difficult to find anyone anywhere in the world), it is not an excuse to say they were waiting for Amanda to be cleared because Amanda was supposedly innocent and it was all a misunderstanding, it is not an excuse to say there was no time as four days is plenty of time. I do not think that Amanda's family should have extended condolences because Amanda is guilty, but rather because it is the right thing to do at the time of notification of death ... not when it suits Amanda's parents.

[zed]

He is complaining about the appeal process and how painful it is. He says they want peace and is that too much to ask? Sounds like he wants the family to stop fighting and appealing and to accept their daughters guilt. He feels anguish at their claims of innocence for Amanda. He is talking about his pain and how Amanda's family is making it worse.

That's right. He wants Amanda to stop being treated like a celebrity. She's a convicted murderer with rights to an automatic appeal. During this appeal, the PR firm hired by Amanda's supposedly broke parents has swayed US media and set up PR moves to promote the murderer as a celebrity rather than as the convicted murderer she is. The media is obviously influenced, as they don't even have the decency to post a real photo of Meredith, instead repeatedly portraying her in her halloween costume.

Here is one of the many photos available on the internet
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/4 ... her416.jpg
She performed in a music video, which is also a flattering image. Instead, US media, governed by the Knox/Mellas PR firm, shows Meredith dressed as a vampire. Why is that?

Let the appeal go forward, but stop the Amanda the Celebrity crap. She is a convicted murderer, not a celebrity.

[Emily]

That's right. He wants Amanda to stop being treated like a celebrity. She's a convicted murderer with rights to an automatic appeal. During this appeal, the PR firm hired by Amanda's supposedly broke parents has swayed US media and set up PR moves to promote the murderer as a celebrity rather than as the convicted murderer she is. The media is obviously influenced, as they don't even have the decency to post a real photo of Meredith, instead repeatedly portraying her in her halloween costume.

Here is one of the many photos available on the internet
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/4 ... her416.jpg
She performed in a music video, which is also a flattering image. Instead, US media, governed by the Knox/Mellas PR firm, shows Meredith dressed as a vampire. Why is that?

Let the appeal go forward, but stop the Amanda the Celebrity crap. She is a convicted murderer, not a celebrity.

3 times you say she is a convicted murderer...but she isn't.


The presumption of innocence is so strong in Italy that under criminal procedural law, Knox is still not considered a convicted murderer, and won't be, until she has been found guilty through all phases of the process: Court of Assize, where the jury just made a decision; the Appellate Court of Assize; and the Court of Cassation.

"In Italy there is a presumption of innocence until there is a definitive conviction," Carnevale said.

"These criticisms we are hearing from the United States are so strange," said Stefania Carnevale, an assistant professor of criminal procedural law and prisoner's rights at the University of Ferrara.

"They leave me perplexed because the critique seems to be about the behavior of the police or the prosecutor or small details of this single trial, not the system as a whole. If there are errors in a trial, the Italian system has rigorous checks and balances in place to correct such mistakes, and guarantee an appeal.

You really think that Amanda's family is telling the media to run with the vampire photo? If they had the power to influence the photos for an article (which I seriously doubt) I bet they'd choose no photo of Meredith at all. After all no-one is saying ok Amanda killed her but she deserved it or she has excuses, look at vampire Meredith.

Claiming Amanda and Raffaele are innocent is not anti-Meredith.

[zed]

From the same article:

"Knox and two others stand convicted of taking the life of Meredith Kercher. "

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413244_knox15.html

[zed]

Here's the complete article written by Meredith's father. I think you will find that the focus of the letter written by John Kercher is his loss, not a leter of complaint. He objects to the celebrity status that Amanda has achieved, but he also understands that the reason for her celebrity is because, to some, she seems like an unlikely killer. To some, Ted Bundy seemed like an unlikely killer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... Knoxy.html

[Emily]

From the same article:

"Knox and two others stand convicted of taking the life of Meredith Kercher. "

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413244_knox15.html

The article quotes an Italian assistant legal professor on Amanda's status. The quote "stand convicted of" is from Andrea Vogt the writer of the article. I don't know if there's a special term to refer to her situation now and that term changes once the final appeal is over or whether it's just a concept that Italians understand. English struggles to translate legal words and concepts from another language. Look at the press handling of the Aruban/Dutch legal system.

The Italians seem to accept that the finding of guilt is a multi-part process that might make mistakes but supposedly it all works out in the end.

[resigned]

Knox was vilified in Italy and many celebrated her conviction. The prosecutor portrayed the crime as a sex game gone wrong which also involved Rudy Hermann Guede, an Ivory Coast man known as a small time crook. He was convicted in a separate trial and given 16 years. He is also appealing.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162- ... 04083.html

Apparently, many Italians are thrilled that Amanda has moved into the finals of being not just merely convicted of murder, but really most sincerely convicted of murder.

[Emily]

Knox was vilified in Italy and many celebrated her conviction. The prosecutor portrayed the crime as a sex game gone wrong which also involved Rudy Hermann Guede, an Ivory Coast man known as a small time crook. He was convicted in a separate trial and given 16 years. He is also appealing.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162- ... 04083.html

Apparently, many Italians are thrilled that Amanda has moved into the finals of being not just merely convicted of murder, but really most sincerely convicted of murder.

Wheels of justice

Three things are important if the full background to Mr Berlusconi’s legal entanglements is to be understood. First, once an allegation of a crime is made in Italy, magistrates have a legal duty to investigate. They can investigate the allegation for a maximum of two years without bringing charges. Second, once charges are brought, the justice system moves slowly: a trial can last for years, as can the appeal process. Third, in Italy, the accused are not considered guilty before definitive conviction in the final appeals court.

http://www.economist.com/node/587107

[resigned]

Wheels of justice

Three things are important if the full background to Mr Berlusconi’s legal entanglements is to be understood. First, once an allegation of a crime is made in Italy, magistrates have a legal duty to investigate. They can investigate the allegation for a maximum of two years without bringing charges. Second, once charges are brought, the justice system moves slowly: a trial can last for years, as can the appeal process. Third, in Italy, the accused are not considered guilty before definitive conviction in the final appeals court.

http://www.economist.com/node/587107

Personally - I don't know how there can be an appeal of a conviction of murder if you haven't been convicted of murder, but that's just my American Justice talking. I'm sure the Italians refer to Amanda as that sweet girl who isn't guilty.

[Emily]

Personally - I don't know how there can be an appeal of a conviction of murder if you haven't been convicted of murder, but that's just my American Justice talking. I'm sure the Italians refer to Amanda as that sweet girl who isn't guilty.

Well some do.

Half a dozen books have been written about the murder, the most recent by an Italian MP who visited Knox in jail.

In "Take Me With You: Talks with Amanda Knox in Prison", Rocco Girlanda, 44, wrote that Knox's face was "beautiful like a porcelain doll", describes how he dreamt of her after numerous visits, and reveals that he invited her to go to Venice with him.

The English version of the book is due to be published on the day the appeal hearing starts.

Critics have questioned the MP's motivation for writing the book and Francesco Maresca, the lawyer representing the Kercher family, criticised it as "completely inappropriate."

[resigned]

He's just trying to hit it - you know how smooth those Italian cops can be...

[Isanah]

I still agree that she could have been set up due to her own actions during the after math of Meridith's death. I don't think that Amanda knowingly set up to commit this horrible crime. I think she was between a rock and a hard place and subsequently became a suspect.

[zed]

The article quotes an Italian assistant legal professor on Amanda's status. The quote "stand convicted of" is from Andrea Vogt the writer of the article. I don't know if there's a special term to refer to her situation now and that term changes once the final appeal is over or whether it's just a concept that Italians understand. English struggles to translate legal words and concepts from another language. Look at the press handling of the Aruban/Dutch legal system.

The Italians seem to accept that the finding of guilt is a multi-part process that might make mistakes but supposedly it all works out in the end.

Scott Peterson is convicted of murdering his wife, and he is entitled to an automatic appeal. Does that mean that he isn't really convicted until after the appeal, or does that mean that he is convicted although the conviction could be overturned on appeal? Like it or not, Amanda has been found guilty of murder and has been convicted. She has also been sentenced. That conviction could be overturned during appeal, or could be confirmed and the sentence lengthened.

[Emily]

Scott Peterson is convicted of murdering his wife, and he is entitled to an automatic appeal. Does that mean that he isn't really convicted until after the appeal, or does that mean that he is convicted although the conviction could be overturned on appeal? Like it or not, Amanda has been found guilty of murder and has been convicted. She has also been sentenced. That conviction could be overturned during appeal, or could be confirmed and the sentence lengthened.

I don't think citing examples of what happens in America is any help to understanding the situation in Italy.

After being charged with a crime in Italy you can be held in detention for the same reasons bail is refused in America. If there's no need for detention you'll be allowed to stay home. After being charged with murder you can stay out of jail as long as a judge decides there's no risks. Even a guilty verdict at your appeal doesn't mean arrest or punishment. Not until your final appeal has failed will you start to serve your sentence.

In 2002 a boy died. His mother was charged, found guilty of murder and sentenced to 30 years in 2004. She wasn't held in prison even after being found guilty. An appeal in 2007 reduced her sentence to 16 years but still she wasn't put in prison, it wasn't until her final appeal failed in 2008 that she was arrested. So for 4 years after being found guilty she was allowed to live her life as normal and not as a convicted murderer.

I don't believe that media reports claiming that Amanda and Raffaele are currently serving time are correct, they are still under detention while the process is being completed. According to the Italian way of doing things aren't currently being punished for any crime. Just like the woman found guilty of killing her child their punishment won't start till their final appeal has failed but of course time in detention would be cut from their sentence. That's the way I understand it.


It's got nothing to do with what I like or don't like, I prefer to know the truth of the situation.

[zed]

An oversimplified explanation provided by a professor is not exactly helpful either. The fact is that Amanda Knox was convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 years in jail. She is entitled to an appeal. So is the prosecutor. That practice, where prosecutor and criminal can appeal a verdict, is practiced in many countries. In those countries, a conviction is still a conviction until such time that the conviction is overturned on appeal.

Feel free to believe that Amanda has not been convicted or that she is merely being detained pending appeal ... it makes no difference, she is still sitting in jail as a convicted murderer.

[Emily]

An oversimplified explanation provided by a professor is not exactly helpful either. The fact is that Amanda Knox was convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 years in jail. She is entitled to an appeal. So is the prosecutor. That practice, where prosecutor and criminal can appeal a verdict, is practiced in many countries. In those countries, a conviction is still a conviction until such time that the conviction is overturned on appeal.

Feel free to believe that Amanda has not been convicted or that she is merely being detained pending appeal ... it makes no difference, she is still sitting in jail as a convicted murderer.

2.1 Prison population according to legal status

The prison population of Italy consists of different groups of prisoners. In essence, a distinction can
be drawn between ‘imputati’, ‘condannati’ and ‘internati’. The category of ‘imputati’ resembles
the group of pre-trial detainees in Italy. An ‘imputato’ is a person who has been deprived from his
liberty, but has yet not received a final sentence.7 Prisoners belonging to this category are prisoners
awaiting trial and prisoners who have already been sentenced by the Court of first instance or
appeal but are still waiting for the result of an appeal or an appeal in cassation.‘Condannati’ are
prisoners who are retained with final sentence and ‘internati’ are persons who are subjected safety
measures (misure di sicurezza).


Adjective

imputato m (f imputata, m plural imputati, f plural imputate)

charged, accused

Adjective

condannato m (f condannata, m plural condannati, f plural condannate)

convicted