"Independent experts hired by the court say that DNA evidence should be thrown out because it was likely contaminated at the scene by investigators.
Knox is serving a 26-year prison in Italy since for the death of her roommate, British student Meredith Kercher.
Meanwhile, Kercher's sister has written an impassioned letter to the Italian judges in the appeal trial, espressing scepticism about the new forensic evidence, reports the U.K. Guardian.
"It is extremely difficult to understand how evidence gathered with care and presented as valid at the original trial now risks becoming irrelevant," Stephanie Kercher said in the letter, according to an Italian translation. "Remember too all the other evidence that has been submitted up till now in this trial – 10,000 pages of evidence."
KING5.COM/ASSOCIATED PRESS; SEE WEST SEATTLE HERALD UPDATE FOLLOWING THIS STORY;
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BACKGROUND: Ms. Knox, 23, from Seattle, and her co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian, were convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison, respectively, for the murder of Meredith Kercher, 21, a British exchange student at the University of Perugia who shared a home with Ms. Knox. Both have denied wrongdoing and their appeal trial started last November. An Ivorian man, Rudy Guede, was also convicted of the crime and sentenced to 16 years. After Ms. Kercher’s half-naked body was found in her bedroom, her throat slit, on the morning on Nov. 2, 2007, prosecutors said she had been killed in a sexual escapade that spiraled out of control. (New York Times);
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"PERUGIA, Italy -- Former UW exchange student Amanda Knox returns to Italian court Monday in the appeal of her murder conviction," the King5.com story published earlier today under the heading, "Amanda Knox during her appeals trial in Perugia, Italy, on June, 27, 2011," begins.
"Independent experts hired by the court say that DNA evidence should be thrown out because it was likely contaminated at the scene by investigators," the story continues.
"Knox is serving a 26-year prison in Italy since for the death of her roommate, British student Meredith Kercher.
Meanwhile, Kercher's sister has written an impassioned letter to the Italian judges in the appeal trial, espressing scepticism about the new forensic evidence, reports the U.K. Guardian.
"It is extremely difficult to understand how evidence gathered with care and presented as valid at the original trial now risks becoming irrelevant," Stephanie Kercher said in the letter, according to an Italian translation. "Remember too all the other evidence that has been submitted up till now in this trial – 10,000 pages of evidence."
Knox was convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher in 2007 in the apartment the two shared in Perugia. Knox's co-defendant and ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito of Italy, was convicted of the same charges and sentenced to 25 years.
Knox, 24, and Sollecito, 27, have denied wrongdoing and have appealed. The appeal trial's last hearing was held before the summer break, and much of the debate centered on a kitchen knife the prosecutors believe was the murder weapon.
The trial resumes September 5."
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The story can be found at:
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Amanda-Knox-returns-to-court-Monday-in-appeal-trial-129235448.html
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UPDATE: WEST SEATTLE HERALD; REPORTER STEVE SHAY;
UPDATE: Amanda Knox appeal trial continues Monday, Sept. 5. DNA experts to be challenged: Amanda's mother Edda & stepfather Chris Mellas optimistic. Mellas says court should finally "come clean"
"The appeal trial of West Seattle-raised Amanda Knox continues Monday, Sept. 5, after summer recess in Perugia, Italy, where she has been in prison for nearly four years. She is serving a 26-year sentence for the murder of her college roommate, Meredith Kercher. Her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito is serving 25 years. Rudy Guede, the drifter originally from Ivory Coast, is serving 16 years because of a fast track trial.
Kercher family's lawyer, Francesco Maresca, who is suing Knox and Sollecito in a civil suit and believes they are guilty, and the prosecution, are expected to attack the legitimacy of the two court-appointed forensics experts and their findings. Because the experts were appointed by the judge, drama in the courtroom is expected to develop in the next few weeks as those experts have dismissed the prosecutions findings in the original trial of DNA on the so-called murder weapon, the knife, and other objects.
Legal experts point out that by attacking the forensics experts' reputations, the prosecutors and Maresca are also attacking the reputation of Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann who appointed the experts, putting them in a touchy situation. That, plus the fact that the star witness for the prosecution was dismissed as unreliable, has given Amanda's West Seattle family and supporters hope for acquittal. The verdict is expected by the end of September.
UPDATE: Sunday 7:50 am
The West Seattle Herald contacted Amanda's stepfather Chris Mellas by email this morning. He just returned to Perugia from his Arbor Heights, West Seattle home, and Amanda's mother, Edda, still in Arbor Heights.
Chris said, "Tomorrow (Monday) we expect to get the calendar for the rest of the court dates, through the verdict, we hope. I believe the day will start with Maresca (Kerchers' lawyer) asking questions to the court appointed forensics experts. After he is done. Then it will be our turn as well as Raffaele's legal team.
"So basically a continuation of the last hearing. Should be interesting because the judge did mention at the last hearing that he would be strict on questioning methods. Redundant questions would not be tolerated.
"We look at it as the case has no more evidence. No more witnesses. Plus the circumstantial stuff is without basis. Sexual assault? Prove that Amanda took a part in that. Staged break in? Does not look staged, and prove that Amanda took part in it. Theft? Again, prove that Amanda took part in it. Rudy is a proven thief, so why would it be Amanda or Raffaele??
"Rudy has been convicted of all this already. All the way through the Supreme Court. He can actually be called guilty of murder, rape, theft, breaking and entering.
"There is no evidence of Amanda or Raffaele taking part in this mess at all.
This is just the last remnants of the prosecutors' crazy theories where 2 plus 2 equals something around infinity plus 1.
"Rudy, the guy who was a known harasser of women, drug pusher, thief, and vandal. Also known to be a bit strange and creepy. His DNA, finger prints, and foot prints, are all over the place at the crime scene. So how would it be logical to think of Amanda and Raffaele as suspects?
The few points the police cited as suspicious turned out to be mistakes on the part of the police. The timing of the phone call, etc. So, they just need to come clean. Call Amanda and Raffaele innocent. Say they screwed up and that they are sorry for ruining 4 years of their lives, and the reputation of the Italian police, and call it good!
More unfounded theories will not fix their problem, as they have seen with the last 7 theories from Mignini. Convicting innocent people will not fix their problem. There isn't much that is more admirable than being able to admit fault or failure, graciously, and publicly. The police and prosecution have met this case with arrogance and stubbornness. Never have they exhibited any humility. And yet they wonder why their reputation is so tarnished...they need only look at themselves."
Edda said, "We are thrilled that so many people see that Amanda is clearly innocent. Support for her continues to grow and we appreciate each person.
Amanda has endured another horrible sweltering summer locked up. Each day she is there is terrible. Waiting when knowing the end of the appeal is so near is terrible.
"The court's independent (forensics) experts have been amazing! They supported everything our experts said, and then some!! No blood on the knife, no 'Meredith's DNA' and they even discovered bread residue on the knife. They are from the number one university in Italy and are very highly regarded."
We will continue to update this story."
The update can be found at:
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/09/03/news/update-amanda-knox-appeal-trial-continues-monday-
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
