By
Arla Shephard
November 16, 2007
A forensics team in Italy has found DNA evidence linking UW student Amanda Knox with her British roommate Meredith Kercher, who was found dead in their apartment Nov. 2. The evidence was on a kitchen knife belonging to Raffaele Sollecito, another suspect in the case, according to a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article yesterday ("DNA from Knox and slain roommate reportedly found on boyfriend's knife").
Traces of Kercher's DNA were discovered at the tip of the knife, which was not originally thought to have been the murder weapon. Knox's DNA was also found on the blade, but closer to the handle.
Investigators are still awaiting the examination results of other items taken from the murder scene and Sollecito's apartment, including Kercher's pillowcase and unidentified hair found on Kercher's left hand.
"The work continues," investigators said, according to a Nov. 15 article in the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica ("DNA di Meredith e Amanda su un coltello da cucina di Raffaele").
Sollecito's computer will also be analyzed.
Knox, Sollecito and the third suspect, Patrick "Diya" Lumumba, have been in police custody for 10 days.
Judge Claudia Matteini ruled Nov. 9 that the three suspects posed flight risks and may remain in custody for up to a year as the investigations continue.
[Reach reporter Arla Shephard at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]
16 Comments
#1 Scettico
on November 15, 2007 at 11:17 p.m.(Belfast, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
"DNA from Knox and slain roommate reportedly found on boyfriend’s knifeâ€
That makes it reportedly twice. In your source (Seattlepi) it quickly became allegedly.
Which is a bit silly because the newspaper (The Daily Telegraph of London), the paper you were using, was using, would have been unlikely to have made the original allegedly & reportedly scenario up to begin with!
Why is Amanda Knox still a student at your university? There is no obligation to wait for a trial for that sort of behavior, not in your schools, nor your jails. Why make an exception for her? Is she a rich white person or something?
#2 j
on November 16, 2007 at 12:01 a.m.(Phoenix, AZ | Unverified Name)
I truly believe that if you are innocent, there is only one story .. and it would never change. The fact that Amanda's story keeps changing, truly makes me question her innocence.
#3 Trial by media is a joke
on November 16, 2007 at 11:18 a.m.(San Diego, CA | Unverified Name)
To Scettico and others quick to pass judgment. In modern states, we have what is called the presumption of innocence.
You can familiarize yourself with the concept here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumpt...
Amanda Knox is still a student at the university because she has not been convicted of a crime. An excellent case of trial by media and a rush to pass judgment was the Duke rape scandal. All 3 men, who were excoriated in the media, were eventually declared innocent. I'm sure the UW and other universities have learned much from that case. The university should and hopefully will support it's own until there is sufficient reason not to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Duk...
In theory, whether she is rich or white should be irrelevant in a color/class blind system. Imagine a system where anyone who is accused of a crime is automatically found guilty and sent to jail. I could accuse everyone I dislike of a crime and they would all be put away. The reason we presume innocence is in order to make sure the system is fair. Even if there is only 1 person out of 10 sent to jail who was innocent, that is 1 too many, especially if that person is you.
The way that this case is being played out in the media is both unfair to the suspects as well as the victim.
"How any of the three suspects so far arrested in Perugia can expect a fair trial, should a case against them ever be brought, is almost impossible to imagine. Furthermore, the clear-headed analysis of evidence has already been polluted. As each new discovery is publicised and every new theory widely aired, the public pressure for action grows, and the hand of the investigating authorities is forced. Although the judge is meant to be wholly independent, with the task of weighing the police evidence against the claims of defence counsel, even he cannot expect to remain immune to the overwrought atmosphere in which his inquiries are held. Trial by press conference is not the best means of ensuring that justice is done - but that is what we are witnessing."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comm...
I am not saying whether the suspects are innocent or guilty, but that they should be given a fair trial and until then, let's not assume anything.
#4 Mia
on November 18, 2007 at 12:27 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
Amanda is beyond herself, her lying put her where she was and the media wil lonly extrapolate and sensationalize, but this was a student on study abroad who chose to hang with the cool shady caharacters in the city rather than other students so she could get her daily supply of hasish...hopefully she had enough money from mummy and daddy to be purchasing or else the traffic of men to her door as noted by other italina roommates mus thavepaid for her MINOR drug habit, that we willnot judge, because ALL american students engage in this...I DONT AND i HAVE BEENT THROUGH GRAD SCHOOL AND NEVER BOTHERED, AS WELL AS 3 STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS...
She lied without reason and even if she did not cut the throat, she is still guilty of something,...that will teach her to lie after this faisco ...she deserves a long drawn out life in a bangkok jail where she is raped evey single day and threatened every hour with a knife..rot in your own hell
#5 Madison
on November 19, 2007 at 8:38 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Mia
You say that even if Amanda "did not cut the throat" she should be "raped every single day and threatened every hour with a knife" ?! How can you say this before evidence has proven her guilt or her innocence? Are you so wise on your high pedestal that you have a right to judge and convict a person, despite the fact that DNA testing will not be done for months? You disgust me. You utterly, truly, disgust me. If she is proven innocent, how will you feel about having written those words? How could you wish this on some one when you have no idea what actually happened that night, and you have no idea if Amanda is guilty. How can you not wait to let the experts analyze the data? If Amanda murdered Meredith, then by all means, write your disgusting wishes - but how on earth can you justify saying this without evidence to convict her? What you wrote is sick.
#6 Brad
on November 19, 2007 at 8:40 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
MIA
-I agree with Madison. That is a horrible thing to say, especially when there's not even enough evidence to convict her.
#7 Miapocca
on November 21, 2007 at 7:31 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
A horrible thing to say??
What a horrible painful crime to commit!
She keeps lying, why accuse someone when you know they were not even there and why keep lying..SHE IS GUITLY..even if she is not she deserves the worst because she is part of the lies that is obscuring the truth from coming out..if she an any ounce of goodness in her she would come clean..LYING makes her look guilty as hell..and I would cut of her throat myself given the chance..but no I prefer a long painful life full of torture and an ending with a very blunt knife..
#8 MIA
on November 21, 2007 at 7:33 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
Interesting that you are more disgusted with words than the actions...SHE IS NOT INNOCENT.
She took a LIFE, A LIFE...innocent in your minds maybe because you know her but I wish her the WORST WORST ever in LIFE
SHE IS DISGUSITNG TO ME as your my words are to you!
#9 Madison
on November 25, 2007 at 11:46 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
MIA
I never said I was more disgusted with your words than with the actions that took place that night. All I am saying is that because you don't know if Amanda did it, it is disgusting that you would say something like that. You even wrote that Amanda deserved to be raped on a daily basis "even if she did not cut the throat". I wonder what you wish for the person who did cut the throat then. As I wrote last time, you should wait to find out if she is guilty before you write such things.
Furthermore, as waiting has shown, DNA evidence has come out placing another man, Rudy Hermann Guede, in the room with Meredith. This man, who not only admitted to being in the room and having sex with Meredith, said 1)that Amanda was not there and 2) that he saw the murderer, who he claims is an Italian man. Whether or not this new suspect is the murderer or not I will not judge yet - once again, it is best to wait for the evidence to come out - but the point is that is has been proven that Rudy was there, and he has said Amanda was not. This is why it is best to wait - you made your comment before any DNA testing had even been complete. And now look where the case is since they have started the very first testing. Again, wait before you judge.
#10 Aaron
on December 2, 2007 at 7:23 a.m.(Southampton, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
Ah, so anyone who commits a violent crime deserves to be raped constantly in a prison?
You don't know she did it, and even if she did, she'll go to jail, she'll be removed from society, and probably have all but her basic rights removed. Her dignity will be virtually non-existant. You want to further it? The long sentences associated with murders are the general punishment.
#11 Friends of Amanda
on December 2, 2007 at 2:20 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Friends of Amanda - 12/02/07
Dearest Amanda,
We love you so much and hope you're okay. Sorry every one is making up stories about who you are - it's insane what people can make up by misinterpreting a photograph or a story, huh? Though I must say, it is pretty funny to imagine you as a drunken, slutty, pothead. Yeah - this is ridiculous. I'm not sure how you can take a beautiful, kind, energetic, loving, sensitive, outdoorsy, rock-climbing, yoga-doing, smiley, bouncy, academic, wonderful girl and portray her as a lunatic with no soul. Well dear, we've got your back, and we know who you really are. Love you so much,
-you know who we are
#12 Gregory Carlin
on December 2, 2007 at 8:57 p.m.(Belfast, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
"That is a horrible thing to say, especially when there's not even enough evidence to convict her."
There is more than enough evidence to kick her out of your university. She accused Diya Lumumba of rape and murder.
She is in prison and he isn't. Being accused by Amanda Knox ultimately helped his case because she is a serial liar.
#13 Gregory
on December 2, 2007 at 9:04 p.m.(Belfast, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
"Ah, so anyone who commits a violent crime deserves to be raped constantly in a prison?"
Abu Ghraib was too American rather than not American enough. Similar abuses took place in many prisons in the USA. Graner was par for the course. I've encountered dozens of corrections officers just like him. Quite a few are still working in WA.
What do you think happened to the Iraqi girls at Abu Ghraib? Your entire country went into mass denial on that account. Too grim a vista to contemplate.
Amanda Knox is getting the rich white treatment though.
Corrections officers in the USA are notorious for rape & child abuse. It is part of your culture.
#14 Michael Davis
on December 3, 2007 at 1:47 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Gregory,
what the hell are you talking about? It is not part of American culture to rape and abuse. Seriously, you cannot be stupid enough to believe that. Don't act like that only happens here, and don't act like we're okay with the fact that it ever happens. Don't tell us how we feel about Abu Ghraib either. You really think that any country's people have power over their government? Regardless of what type of government they have, the people never actually have the power. Hate our government? Fine. Most of us have serious issues with it right now anyway. But don't judge the people based on the government's actions. They are two completely and entirely separate things.
#15 Gregory
on December 11, 2007 at 10:29 a.m.(Belfast, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
"Don't tell us how we feel about Abu Ghraib either. You really think that any country's people have power over their government?"
Like My Lai? All it took was for somebody to demand the electric chair for *all* of the culprits.
I mean, using little babies for target practice, sexually torturing little girls via genital mutilation, why wrap the flag around that?
Abu Ghraib was as American as apple pie.
Europeans, ordinary people, were of a view that the Washington Post's second batch of phots were deliberately bumped over to the newspaper because of something else.
Using female prisoners for sex is a culture in the USA.
Some officials justified the abuses because the historic models dating to 19th century would have 'official' brothels within some institutions.
King County Jail & Purdy are well know for sex abuse.
Feds recently blasting the KCJ.
G.
#16 Gregory
on December 11, 2007 at 12:30 p.m.(Belfast, United Kingdom | Unverified Name)
"The long sentences associated with murders are the general punishment."
The EU is not the USA, we have killers out in a few years.
Amanda Knoxx, if she is the exception to that, will be punished for dragging things out, weaving surreal and puzzling tales, and generally for being widely hated.
Killing pepole in the EU, is not something with a lot of years attached to it. Life in the UK, can mean as little as 3 or 4 years.
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