Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito Freed by the Italian Judicial System
An Italian court freed Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox after the two spent 1450 days in jail. In the medieval city of Perugia, the second level of the Italian justice system has acquitted the two university students of murder charges. This final sentence has overturned initial charges of 25 years for Sollecito and 26 years for his American ex-girlfriend, Amanda Knox.
Italian media have followed the process with deep feeling and worries, showing different portraits of the accused persons. Knox was introduced as the typical ‘femme fatale’, a beautiful and intelligent young enchantress, with deep green eyes and an innocent smile. Italian people have been divided between the supporters of her innocence and those who accused her of a terrific and absurd murder.
According to the final statement, Knox and Sollecito have been completely acquitted, casting an incredible doubt on the public: Why has there been a total overturn of judgment? The two had been initially accused of collaborating with 24-year-old Ivorian Rudy Guede in the murder of Kercher. Guede has already been convicted of Kercher's murder and is serving 16 years in prison.
Sollecito’s father said, immediately after the sentence: “Now I have back my son, now I and my family can come back to our life.” After the appeal ‘s statement of innocence, Knox broke down in tears and Sollecito hugged his lawyer, Ms Bongiorno, saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Now they are free to collect their personal belongings in prison and go home.
The Italian judicial system has been under the unprecedented scrutiny of the international media, especially the American media. According to an Italian lawyer, the increased publicity may have resulted in a negative rush to find the guilty.
Now two young students are rightly freed, leaving the Kercher family to mourn their lovely daughter, perhaps without ever clearly understanding what happened the night of November 1st, 2007.
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