Similaritys between the amanda knox case and wm3?

satansbedsatansbed Posts: 2,139
edited March 2013 in A Moving Train
i came accross this article its a pretty interesting one

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analy ... 97563.html


AFTER the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in what was perhaps the most famous murder case in recent years, I was struck by the similarities to that case and that of the West Memphis Three, who were released just a few weeks ago after 17 years imprisonment.

The most unusual aspect of the two murder cases was the apparent lack of motive from any of the accused; Knox and Sollecito were convicted of Meredith Kercher’s murder after a sex-game went awry, the West Memphis Three were found guilty of murdering three eight year-old boys on the evidence that they were “Goths” and listened to heavy metal music.

In both courthouses, the prosecutors used an evocative word when coming up with a motive – Satan.

Most people are aware of the circumstances surrounding the trial of Knox and Sollecito; it was hard to miss it with the blanket coverage given to it from the news organisations, however what received little coverage in the mainstream media was the prosecutor’s original hypothesis of what caused these two middle class students to murder Knox’s flatmate.

Lead prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, theorised that on the night of 1st November 2007 the two lovers held a satanic ritual with a casual acquaintance Rudy Guede, that called for a blood sacrifice.

To add to Mignini’s suspicions of dark forces at work, Knox and Sollecito admitted to occasionally smoking marijuana and engaging in pre-marital sex (the ranks of Dark Lord’s minions must be swelling in campuses across Ireland if that’s the criteria for being a follower).

Rolling Stone, when covering the original 2008 trial wrote that Mignini, “...detected Satan's influence as early as 2001, when he became a central figure in the Monster of Florence serial-killer case. He proposed that the suicide of a Perugian doctor was actually a murder committed by a satanic cult, practicing since the Middle Ages that demanded human organs for their Black Masses.

He later accused a hostile journalist of Satanism and was convicted of abusing his office. In the early stages of the Kercher investigation, Mignini suggested that the victim had been slaughtered during a satanic ritual, but in his closing argument, he only went so far as to refer to Knox as a sex-and-drug-crazed ‘she-devil.’”

On the other side of the Atlantic, the West Memphis Three case involved the conviction of Damien Wayne Echols (18), Jessie Misskelley (17) and Charles Jason Baldwin (16), with murder in the deaths of 8-year-olds Michael Moore, Christopher Byers and Steve Branch in 1994.

The bodies of the three victims were found in a ditch, hog-tied and naked but with no conclusive proof that they were raped. Police officials arrested the three teenagers who were known amongst locals for wearing “Goth” clothes and listening to heavy-metal music in a conservative Christian town.

Law officials allegedly coerced an error-filled "confession" from Misskelley, who is legally mentally-handicapped.

Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution tenuously presented black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual.

Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40 years.

After a heavy campaign by various supporters over, including Pearl Jam’s Eddie Veder and the Dixie Chick’s Natalie Maines, the West Memphis Three were allowed to walk free after entering a “no contest” plea.

This basically means that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction but innocence is nevertheless maintained (a cop-out from an embarrassed DA who realised that “witches” were put to death in 17th Century Salem with more evidence).

The three were only granted freedom six weeks ago and are still getting used to life on the outside; Echols stated that he had trouble keeping his balance because he is not used to walking without chains attached to his ankles.

These two high-profile cases emphasise the need to keep criminal prosecution in the realm of the secular. The invocation of Satan or merely satanic-worshipping in a murder trial as a motive is, perhaps the most desperate example of unsubstantiated evidence used to secure a conviction.

In murder trials, there will nearly always be an unknown factor that cannot be explained, and on quite a few occasions, that elusive “x” value is the motive.

It’s up to the prosecutor to present the surrounding evidence (forensics, pathology reports, eye-witnesses) as conclusive proof that no other person could have committed the crime than the accused. Establishing motive isn’t the only way of getting a conviction, but filling in the lack of motive with a theory based in the supernatural is an indication of a weak argument.

Sixty years were lost in a jail cell amongst the five people wrongfully convicted on the premise that Satan had influenced their mind, one of them was almost put to death.

Be wary of lawyers who use the Book of Revelations as a law reference
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • BinauralJamBinauralJam Posts: 14,158
    It's just sad in this day and age that we still have witch trails.
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    I have't kept up with this case a lot.

    If she is innocent and her Bo is also .. who did the crime?

    In the WM3 case it was pretty clear after some time who did the murders
    in this case are there any other suspects?
  • What about the differences between these two cases and that black guy who was on death row for 20 years and was executed a couple of weeks ago despite there being no evidence of his involvement in a murder? Troy I think his name was. He'd already served a lifetime practically before execution but I didn't see loads of celebs/Media/pr coming out in his favour.

    Guess he''s not a member of some cool teen subculture, or some sexy vixen to capture people's imaginations, but he was black so I guess that was enough to make him guilty regardless. Hmmm..
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  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    What about the differences between these two cases and that black guy who was on death row for 20 years and was executed a couple of weeks ago despite there being no evidence of his involvement in a murder? Troy I think his name was. He'd already served a lifetime practically before execution but I didn't see loads of celebs/Media/pr coming out in his favour.

    Guess he''s not a member of some cool teen subculture, or some sexy vixen to capture people's imaginations, but he was black so I guess that was enough to make him guilty regardless. Hmmm..
    I agree to a point ... there were many people fighting his case though
    some well known in the community but no no celebs per say

    the entire case was not news worthy from the murder itself ... a cop killer ...
    unfortunately the more heinous the crime the more attention it gets. And like you say the more
    interesting the accused too plays a huge part.
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,338
    pandora wrote:
    I have't kept up with this case a lot.

    If she is innocent and her Bo is also .. who did the crime?

    In the WM3 case it was pretty clear after some time who did the murders
    in this case are there any other suspects?

    Rudy Guede was convicted of the murder also.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    dignin wrote:
    Rudy Guede was convicted of the murder also.
    He was the guy that the DNA evidence pointed at... right? I never followed the case, but I remember hearing something about DNA nailing someone... wasn't sure if it was Knox or not.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
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  • dignindignin Posts: 9,338
    Cosmo wrote:
    dignin wrote:
    Rudy Guede was convicted of the murder also.
    He was the guy that the DNA evidence pointed at... right? I never followed the case, but I remember hearing something about DNA nailing someone... wasn't sure if it was Knox or not.

    From Wikipedia
    Nick Squires of The Daily Telegraph reported that Guede "...became a suspect in the murder two weeks after Miss Kercher's body was found, when DNA tests on a bloody fingerprint and on samples taken from the body were found to match samples which police already had on file following his earlier arrests." A manhunt for a fourth suspect began on 19 November 2007 after a bloody handprint found on Kercher's pillow was matched to Guede. Guede had left Perugia by train a few days after the murder. DNA matching Guede's was found both on and inside Kercher's body and on her shirt, bra and handbag. A bloody handprint found on a pillow under Kercher's back was also matched to Guede
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,338
    Also from Wikipedia
    Problems with forensic evidence in Amanda Knox case

    Knife: the actual knife used to kill Meredith Kercher was never found.

    Other knife: DNA on knife found at Raffaelle Sollecito's house had such a slight presence it could not be ruled an exact match to Kercher.

    Kercher's blood-stained bra clasp: Experts said the clasp had been laying on a floor for so long that it was useless as evidence.

    Bedroom: No DNA from Knox was found in the bedroom where Kercher was fatally stabbed.

    Witnesses: No reliable witness could say Knox and Sollecito were in the house when the murder occurred.

    Confession: Knox's lawyers argued that her purported confession to being in the house during the killing was not true, claiming she had made the admission under no sleep and extreme duress and stress
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    One thing I will say (I haven't followed the case)...

    Perugia, Italy is a beautiful town. I got to spend a couple days there with my high school and the scenery was beautiful. Great bars, restaurants, and had some of the nicest people I have ever met. I know this sounds stupid, but it pains me that most Americans' view on this great town is the Amanda Knox case.
    /end rant
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    One thing I will say (I haven't followed the case)...

    Perugia, Italy is a beautiful town. I got to spend a couple days there with my high school and the scenery was beautiful. Great bars, restaurants, and had some of the nicest people I have ever met. I know this sounds stupid, but it pains me that most Americans' view on this great town is the Amanda Knox case.
    /end rant
    that doesn't sound stupid at all and for many who are unable to travel
    this will be their only experience with the town
    one thing if she had remained incarcerated another if now she appears wrongly accused
    a real black mark for the town
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    dignin wrote:
    Also from Wikipedia
    Problems with forensic evidence in Amanda Knox case

    Knife: the actual knife used to kill Meredith Kercher was never found.

    Other knife: DNA on knife found at Raffaelle Sollecito's house had such a slight presence it could not be ruled an exact match to Kercher.

    Kercher's blood-stained bra clasp: Experts said the clasp had been laying on a floor for so long that it was useless as evidence.

    Bedroom: No DNA from Knox was found in the bedroom where Kercher was fatally stabbed.

    Witnesses: No reliable witness could say Knox and Sollecito were in the house when the murder occurred.

    Confession: Knox's lawyers argued that her purported confession to being in the house during the killing was not true, claiming she had made the admission under no sleep and extreme duress and stress
    I see then her boyfriend was Sollecito and they were charged by association,
    also the murder occurred in Sollecito's home, and the killer, Guede, is currently imprisoned.

    Did Knox and Sollecito come forward and report the crime at the time it happened?
    I see she admitted to being in the house then recanted.

    I feel for the parents of the murdered girl, they have justice though in that the killer
    is in for life I assume.

    Perhaps Knox was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and nothing more.
    I hope this is the case.
  • pandora wrote:
    What about the differences between these two cases and that black guy who was on death row for 20 years and was executed a couple of weeks ago despite there being no evidence of his involvement in a murder? Troy I think his name was. He'd already served a lifetime practically before execution but I didn't see loads of celebs/Media/pr coming out in his favour.

    Guess he''s not a member of some cool teen subculture, or some sexy vixen to capture people's imaginations, but he was black so I guess that was enough to make him guilty regardless. Hmmm..
    I agree to a point ... there were many people fighting his case though
    some well known in the community but no no celebs per say

    the entire case was not news worthy from the murder itself ... a cop killer ...
    unfortunately the more heinous the crime the more attention it gets. And like you say the more
    interesting the accused too plays a huge part.

    Jimmy Carter is not well knownn? And as you say, he was a convicted cop killer. That's a much tougher row to hoe.
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    pandora wrote:
    What about the differences between these two cases and that black guy who was on death row for 20 years and was executed a couple of weeks ago despite there being no evidence of his involvement in a murder? Troy I think his name was. He'd already served a lifetime practically before execution but I didn't see loads of celebs/Media/pr coming out in his favour.

    Guess he''s not a member of some cool teen subculture, or some sexy vixen to capture people's imaginations, but he was black so I guess that was enough to make him guilty regardless. Hmmm..
    I agree to a point ... there were many people fighting his case though
    some well known in the community but no no celebs per say

    the entire case was not news worthy from the murder itself ... a cop killer ...
    unfortunately the more heinous the crime the more attention it gets. And like you say the more
    interesting the accused too plays a huge part.

    Jimmy Carter is not well knownn? And as you say, he was a convicted cop killer. That's a much tougher row to hoe.
    yes so sorry you are right I did see him speak out once on the TV as you mention that now.

    And some well known black leaders
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    pandora wrote:
    One thing I will say (I haven't followed the case)...

    Perugia, Italy is a beautiful town. I got to spend a couple days there with my high school and the scenery was beautiful. Great bars, restaurants, and had some of the nicest people I have ever met. I know this sounds stupid, but it pains me that most Americans' view on this great town is the Amanda Knox case.
    /end rant
    that doesn't sound stupid at all and for many who are unable to travel
    this will be their only experience with the town
    one thing if she had remained incarcerated another if now she appears wrongly accused
    a real black mark for the town
    It's a fantastic place, and if I ever get back to Italy, I will certainly visit again!
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • tvismyfriendtvismyfriend Posts: 2,118
    pandora wrote:
    dignin wrote:
    Also from Wikipedia
    Problems with forensic evidence in Amanda Knox case

    Knife: the actual knife used to kill Meredith Kercher was never found.

    Other knife: DNA on knife found at Raffaelle Sollecito's house had such a slight presence it could not be ruled an exact match to Kercher.

    Kercher's blood-stained bra clasp: Experts said the clasp had been laying on a floor for so long that it was useless as evidence.

    Bedroom: No DNA from Knox was found in the bedroom where Kercher was fatally stabbed.

    Witnesses: No reliable witness could say Knox and Sollecito were in the house when the murder occurred.

    Confession: Knox's lawyers argued that her purported confession to being in the house during the killing was not true, claiming she had made the admission under no sleep and extreme duress and stress
    I see then her boyfriend was Sollecito and they were charged by association,
    also the murder occurred in Sollecito's home, and the killer, Guede, is currently imprisoned.

    Did Knox and Sollecito come forward and report the crime at the time it happened?
    I see she admitted to being in the house then recanted.

    I feel for the parents of the murdered girl, they have justice though in that the killer
    is in for life I assume.

    Perhaps Knox was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and nothing more.
    I hope this is the case.
    I don't think he's actually in for life. I remember hearing he testified against Knox to lessen his sentence to like sixteen years or something.
  • lukin2006lukin2006 Posts: 9,087
    Could Amanda Knox be Extradited to Italy?


    http://abcnews.go.com/International/ama ... VJ8GL_AVtI
    I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin

    "Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    I don't get this...
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    Apart from 'satan', I think the link between the Perugia murder and the WM3 is a bit far fetched and really minimises the WM3.

    For Perugia, whilst there is a lot of 'messiness', there is clear cut evidence that put a killer in jail, not the case for the WM3. The WM3 were never found innocent, AK was, etc....

    I think the prosecution here is clutching at straws, but we'll see. It is certainly a talking point there. Whilst Perugia is a beautiful town rich in culture and history and, though students make up about 1/4 of the population, there is a near equal amount of pensioners with very, very conservative values.

    Should all this turn for the worse for Knox after all appeals, etc. are exhausted and the verdict is overturned, it will be intesting to see how the US would handle the extradition.
  • i see little similarity. With the WM3, you had 3 people who were obviously wrongly convicted who sat in jail for 15 years, and one was on the verge of being executed. Amanda Knox spent several years in jail, and her guilt and innocence are still up in the air. Plus with the Wm3 case you have shocking amounts of evidence to actually convict someone else.
  • difference being the WM3 didn't actually kill anyone.

    Amanda Knox did. (allegedly. Frankly... I'm convinced she did it and don't buy her act one bit.)
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