News
KNOX PROSECUTOR GUILTY. Guiliano Mignini, the Perugian head prosecutor in the Meredith Kercher trial who put Arbor Heights UW student Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito behind bars, was himself convicted of abuse of power in Florence Jan. 22.
Amanda Knox head prosecutor charged with 'abuse of power'
Just five days prior to the Amanda Knox fundraiser at the Comedy Underground, the head prosecutor who convicted her of murder was himself convicted for his mishandling of a separate murder case.
Giuliano Mignini, who prosecuted Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito in Perugia, Italy for the murder of Knox’s college roommate, Meredith Kercher, was found guilty in the Florence Court Jan. 22 of illegal phone tapping, abuse of high office, and dereliction of duty in connection with highly publicized "The Monster of Florence" serial killer case in Italy.
Mignini wiretapped journalists, newspapers, police and legal authorities, mostly in Florence and Rome during his investigation of the serial killings. He had threatened lawsuits and investigations against journalists who questioned his investigation in the case. Mignini has been sentenced to 16 months jail time, but his sentence may be suspended.
While it is too soon to determine if the verdict against Mignini will better position Knox and Sollecito to be released during their appeal, some media outlets report that the court may take a second look at Mignini’s methods in the Knox case and search for red flags, including the possibility of the prosecution’s leaking false information about Knox to the press.
“The Florentine prosecutor asked for 10 months of prison for Mignini, but the judge felt his crimes were so severe he gave him 16 months instead,” said Douglas Preston, in a phone interview with the West Seattle Herald.
Preston, an American, and his Italian writing partner, Mario Spezi, wrote the best-selling book “The Monster of Florence” and were indicted for perjury by Mignini and accused of being involved in the serial killings because, as they see it, their own investigation contradicted Mignini’s and embarrassed him. Tom Cruise is currently in production filming a movie based on the book.
“There is absolutely no way to spin this in Mignini’s favor,” Preston said. “This is truly an embarrassment in Italy.
“Mignini threatened small newspapers and local journalists with lawsuits and investigations, but he did not go after Timothy Egan who attacked him in his New York Times articles.”
Egan is the Times’ Pulitzer Prize winning Northwest correspondent in Seattle, and wrote opinion pieces in support of Knox and Sollecito in the June 12 and Dec. 12 Opinion Page of the New York Times.
“But he went after (author) Joe Cottonwood who attacked him on his blog.”
And of course he went after Preston and Spezi.
Preston said that Mignini announced in court that he dropped his charges against Preston but continued to state that Preston was involved with the serial killing.
“His pattern of abuse, and what Spezi was convicted for is quite evident in the Knox case,” said Preston. “It certainly does cast a pall in his accusations in the case against Amanda Knox.”
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Comments
Ridiculous Case
There is a great article about this on the Ridiculous Case against Amanda Knox site.
http://knoxarchives.blogspot.com/
Facts
The article by Shay and one referenced above by the ever so well intentioned but so terribly misinformed Phan are nothing more than regurgitation of mis statements and refusal to accept factual evidence that caused 19 jurists, and 8 jurors after 2 years of close examination of evidence to *unanimously* convict Amanda and her Italian lover, Raffaele, and her drug supplier Rudy of this horrific murder.
She did it and has been overwhelmingly deemed guilty, and is where she belongs.
Give it a rest
Amanda's problem = the EVIDENCE, not Mignini
Mignini was only ONE member of a TEAM of prosecutors.
They're interchangeable civil servants - any one of them could have tried the case - and they do not pass final judgement, the JURY does.
Even if you toss Mignini out of the equation, it won't erase the fact that Amanda and her knife-collecting "boyfriend" of 6 days are inculpated by their LIES and their DNA traces.
By Amanda's own words, she
By Amanda's own words, she was present when those heinous, brutal crimes were committed against Meredith Kercher. Remember her? THE VICTIM!!! Meredith Kercher. Amanda is not the victim here. Nothing Mignini has done has any bearing on the egregious crimes Amanda committed.
Amanda Knox should have never been arrested
I've actually become fascinated by all the twisted
logic and scenarios that show a great discomfort
with the truth of her innocence. Clearly, some
have made a substantial emotional investment in
the belief that Amanda is guilty.
It was a physical impossibility to participate
in this horrible crime without leaving substantial
DNA evidence in the room where the crime took place.
That's why Rudy Guede's forensic evidence is all
over the room. After all, HE did the crime.
Now, find one piece of irrefutable evidence that Amanda
and Raffaele were in the room when the murder took place.
Just ONE piece of IRREFUTABLE evidence that they were
there. Like a bloody thumb print. You can't because
they weren't there. Every piece of evidence that was
offered by the prosecution was demolished by the defense.
That's important because Amanda lived at the residence
and Raffaele had visited several times. One needs to
establish their presence in the room when the murder took
place because she lived at the residence and he visited.
They are both innocent. I know that the truth of that
hurts some people. They want to believe what Amanda wanted
to believe: that an innocent person doesn't get convicted
of a crime that they didn't commit. Very sadly it happens.
It's the interpretation of the RELEVANT evidence that matters.
They weren't in the room when the murder took place.
If they were, the relevant evidence would show that.
It doesn't. End of story.
Facts
Oh you need a rest? Have one with my compliments. Make it a long one. And while you're resting try to come to terms with the fact that you don't really care about Meredith Kercher. This case is just an opportunity for you to be venal. In contrast I care about the victim and about two innocent people thrown into prison by this lunatic Mignini. And I don't need a rest. I will be following this case, sending supportive letters to Amanda and her family and donating money for as long as it takes.
facts
It is people like you, and there are so many of you thank God, that keep the family and Amanda strong. Thank you for speaking out and your continued support. Don't let the uninformed and ignorant "haters" out there, that seem to live to post, slow you down! They are so "sick of this case, and need a rest" but seem to be everywhere, following every article in hopes of a chance to post their stupidity. We know that they are few in number but these few post so much to make themselves look like there are more of them. It's just the same few though. The sad and lonely few.
Amanda Knox head prosecutor
Doug Preston has a book to sell. Was he indicted or not?He uses that word in a video where he cries about being questioned by Mignini. If he fled after an indictment, that makes him a fugitive. If he did not, it makes him a liar.
Amanda's "boyfriend"
Interesting facts about Amanda's "boyfriend", Raffaele Sollecito:
1. Amanda only knew him for 6 DAYS
2. He COLLECTS knives
3. He has a history of COCAINE abuse
4. He LIED about "pricking" Meredith while "cooking dinner for her" to try to fast-talk the police when they confronted him about finding Meredith's DNA on the BLADE of a knife from his kitchen (which matches 1 of 3 wounds on Meredith's neck & has Amanda's DNA on the handle)
5. TO THIS DAY, he is refusing to support Amanda's alibi that she was with him all night
Commentators
Here is what some US commentators are saying about the case. They are not mincing their words:
Doug Preston (Author and commentator for CBS )
“This is a case based on lies, superstition, and crazy conspiracy theories and that’s it”
Paul Ciolino (private investigator retained by CBS)
“This is a lynching … this is a lynching that is happening in modern day Europe right now and it’s happening to an American girl who has no business being charged with anything.”
Timothy Egan (NY Times correspondent)
“The case against Knox has so many holes in it, and is so tied to the career of a powerful Italian prosecutor who is under indictment for professional misconduct, that any fair-minded jury would have thrown it out months ago.”
Peter Van Sant (CBS correspondent)
“We have concluded that Amanda Knox is being railroaded”
John Q Kelly (Guest on CNN Larry King Live)
“This case is probably the most egregious international railroading of two innocent young people that I have ever seen… This is actually a public lynching based on rank speculation and vindictiveness. It’s just a nightmare what these people are going through.”
The Bottom Line
Amanda Knox was railroaded by a dysfunctional Italian justice system. The crime was committed by a local thug from the Ivory Coast named Rudy Guede.
No DNA of Amanda Knox was found in the room where the murder occurred, none. Rudy Guede’s DNA was everywhere including in areas indicating sexual penetration. His prints were there; his feces in the toilet; his foot prints; he flees the next day to Germany. In the weeks before the murder he had participated in three breaking and entering incidents where he was armed with a knife and had no accomplices. He had motives of both theft and sexual desire. When photographed two weeks later his hands showed defensive wounds which he claimed were in fighting off the real attacker. Amanda and Raffaele had no defensive wounds.
In a police monitored phone call before his arrest, Rudy says he wasn’t there. When physical evidence shows that he was he changes his story. He claimed to have taken the victim on a date and that someone else killed her while he was in the bathroom. There is no evidence whatsoever that the victim would have accepted a date with him.
The prosecutor seems to think that Amanda was the ring leader and that she was holding down the victim while Rudy sexually assaulted her. There is no evidence of a relationship between Rudy and any of the others. Amanda had seen him around, nothing more. This scenario put forth by the prosecutor would have no parallel in history, literally.
Consider also Mignini's interrogation of Doug Preston in an unrelated matter. Mignini accused Preston of being an accessory to murder and had him expelled from the country. Preston's co-author Mario Spezi was jailed for several weeks. The idea that Preston or Spezi were interfering with a murder investigation is as preposterous and made-up as the case against Amanda. Mignini's interrogation techniques are not motivated by a search for the truth.
In Italy's trial of the century their justice system was broken. Where are the people of Perugia to rise up against this outrage?
Yay!Some sensible comments based on facts!
Steve Shay I think your article is well-written and you manage to keep to the facts and have managed to find the ones that explain why Magnini counts in this whole debacle.How refreshing-and thank you. In these dark days online it takes courage to write online-or especially write an article with a name attached.
And for post #11 PhanuelB you have said it all and well said-good man. Those of us who decide guilt or innocence based on facts and evidence applaud you for getting them down. I have gotten so worn out from trying to write the actual facts that I've started leaving it up to others. My fingers are tired of trying to convince the emotional -deciders of things they will not admit.
It is so pleasing to read posts on this subject by rational people who think with their heads and not their enraged feelings. I gave up looking at the comments posted about Amanda for so long because I just couldn't stand to see the multitude of comments by the haters. But if those of us who are looking at nothing but the facts and evidence don't write in then "they've" won-at least on paper.
The thing is Meredith was killed by one lone Rudy Guede whos DNA evidence was all over the place and all over Meredith. And no amount of pushing the facts and inventing convoluted theories by a prosecutor-we-can't-name-because-he-will-sue-us can change the facts that all DNA roads lead to the Rudy Guede door.
amanda knox
Amanda is guilty. Just read True Justice .org and get the facts .
The girl was drinking and drugging. That changes people and their character.
She was also promiscuous...which her parents would have denied, (not their sweet innocent Amanda), had not Amanda admitted to it.
Italy's justice system is not broken..... The People of Perugia spoke...they Were the Jury!
Free her immediately
I am following the case and the comments from abroad.
It is so obvious, that she is absolutely innocent. She is the victim of this insane man.
When will the paid lying Amanda haters be quiet?
A Case of Egregious Injustice
You know the old saying "Follow the money." Well, in a criminal case the truth can be found by "following the prosecutor." Consider the Duke University rape case, for example. Mignini is a corrupt prosecutor who is willing to break the law, violate the rights of individuals, threaten, intimidate and harass, in order to get his way. This prosecutor is a danger to society and he should not be entrusted with the power of the Italian criminal justice system. Amanda Knox's conviction was tainted with the stench of Mignini's corruption. No fair minded person could believe that an investigation, interrogations, evidence collection and court presentation under the control of a corrupt, unethical prosecutor can result in a fair trial. Amanda Knox deserved a real trial, not a Kafkaesqe nightmare.
PhanuelB = Paid to Blog = MIsrepresenting the Evidence
Almost every comment section of every article written on Knox is literally COVERED with posts by "PhanuelB."
Amanda's million-dollar PR team has got its bloggers posting lies around the clock.
"PhanuelB" is one the busier members of the team and, since the conviction, has taken to posting every tired, disingenuous & discredited 'talking-point' ever spewed by the "Friends of Amanda" PR group (which included all of the names mentioned above).
What do they pay you PER blog?
Or are you another blood relative in DEEP denial about your drug-addled little angel?
Why
Why did Amanda's story about Patrick "wanting" Meredith indicate a crime of a sexual nature before that was even known?
She messed her story up, from the get go. Oh and Steve, you never did get back to us about that policeman that made Amanda do cartwheels. Oh yeah. That's because he doesn't exist. Just another lie made up by Chris Mellas. Gee, wonder where Amanda gets her aversion to truth? Nobody in this family knows what it is.
JT
Hey JT ...if you seem to know so much about "every" article written...well what's that make you? If you don't agree with the truth ..than maybe you should move on....there are more shallow minded people in this world that should have a mind check...thanks for your article well put..Steve Shay!
Harry Rag's Medicine
"Almost every comment section of every article written on Knox is literally COVERED with posts by "PhanuelB."
So now Harry Rag is getting some of his own medicine and he doesn't like it. Good. Some injustices in the world are worth doing something about.
For the record. I'm not paid to blog. Not related to the family. Not Candace. Not part of a PR team. It's grass roots support. Everything I write is sourced -- not lies.
PhanuelB = unemployed?
IF - and that's a big 'if' - you are not lying, then you have WAAAAAY too much free time on your hands.
Are you another Wilkens-type freak, fantasizing about a relationship with Amanda if she's released?
last comment
Hummmmm...I guess the same could be said about you ...since you are reading this too....
Last Bastion of the Scoundrel
Free speech is sometimes called the last bastion of the scoundrel. The last bastion of the anti-Amanda trolls is to say that somebody sticks up for her because they're in love with her or fantasizes about a relationship with her.
READ MY LIPS. Employed. Spoke for. Not paid to blog. No fantasies about relationships. Not related to her. Not Candace. Never heard of a "Gogerty Marriott."
I'm in it because I see hate and irrational hysteria and I think it's the right time and place to confront it . I care about our schools and colleges and I will not stand by and watch as a broken justice system and a bunch of hate mongers interfere with two innocent young people's lives.
I care about Meredith and her memory also. You can chose to believe that or not.
charged vs. convicted
Why is the title of this article "AK head prosecutor charged with 'abuse of power'"? Should read "convicted" of abuse of power.
Mignini not the problem
I have read about this case with interest for several months and I have only been able to come to one conclusion which is that Amanda is lieing, about what I'm not sure. She knows more and I think she was in the house during the murder. Was it her hand that killed Merrideth? Probably not, but she knows who's it was and to some extent was involved. Like most things in life the case may not be black and white. If she loses her appeal we might then hear what really happened that tragic night. I expect it was not like anybody has yet imagined.
Mignini is not Amada's problem. Her problem are the facts of the case and more importantly her behaviour during the investigation. All but the most casual observer would agreed something's up with her. The Mignini issue only serves to distract us from the real issues of the case.
I really hope she is innocent but my instinct tells me otherwise. Let's hope justice is done in the end.
Lying affects more than your nose
The Adventures of Pinocchio didn't tell us the whole story, but the UK documentary on Amanda does.
One look at the food blogger and you will realize that, in addition to abnormal nose length, lying can also the cause the following to develop:
Nixon-like nose jowls;
Massive neck whattle;
Lisping; &
Inability to Reason.
PhanuelB and his tired old talking points
PhanuelB:
"For the record. I'm not paid to blog. Not related to the family. Not Candace. Not part of a PR team. It's grass roots support. Everything I write is sourced -- not lies."
Actually, they 'are' lies and they are lies because you know your tired old talking points are false and the reason why you know them to be false, is that I have proven then to be on some of the many other comments sections you've posted. They are proved wrong time and again. How can you not know them to be lies?! Don't answr, it's a rhetorical question, since we both know that no matter how many times you continue to be proven to speaking complete and utter tosh, you will continue to sick up the same BS over and over.
The virtues of honesty and integrity are completely alien to you.
Just one small example. You list people who say bad things about prosecutor Mignini, knowing fully well every single one of them are members of the FOA (just like you)..of COURSE they're going to say bad things about him. It's like saying Obahma is bad, then evidencing it by listing senior members of the Republican party who say he's bad to prove your point.
Drugged up Tart
Amanda's own words justify this description of her given by Perugia locals.
She brags of having sex with a total stranger in a foul smelling train toilet while her Sister waits for her. This she also wrote was just one of the seven sex partners she had in during her *first week* in Italy.
She claims she cannot remember any logical or consistent story about her where a bouts when the murder she was convicted of happened because she was so high on drugs from that night.
These are HER WORDS describing a Drugged Up Tart.
Is it any wonder 27 separate jurists *unanimously* found her guilty.
Speaking of guilty; her Father abandons her family when she is a toddler to start a new family.
He must be brought to court to pay child support.
Now he cries poverty because the million dollar Marriott Public Relations firm he hired to keep the Big Lies coming costs too much.
She is a drugged up Tart..murderer. Get Over it.
Watch how soon this gets deleted by Shay's Simpletons.
This is pretty old news,
This is pretty old news, Steve. Get with the times. Of course, soon you'll be the only paper mentioning Knox. No one will give a rat's ass anymore.
Marriott Public Relations Firm
Marriott just earning big fees from Guilt trip laden Curt by their daily dribbling of drivel daily.
Even such an authority as Meo Tse Tsung agreed that if you repeat a BIG Lie often enough, it becomes more and more credible to the masses
John Winters
Amanda is in her right place, right now.
She probably like the company of people who similar attitudes towards society and followed through with action to earn their place in prison.
Punish all murderers and the female ones as well!
Amanda is in her right place, right now.
She probably likes the company of people who have similar attitudes towards society and followed them through with actions to earn their place in prison.
Lies?
@Michael:"Actually, they 'are' lies and they are lies because you know your tired old talking points are false... I have proven them to be... They are proved wrong time and again. How can you not know them to be lies?!
My material is fully sourced. Let's take a look at an exchange from another blog:
@PhanuelB:"According to news reports the police were fully aware of three break-ins by Rudy Guede in the weeks before the murder."
@Michael:"There were no 'three break ins' by Rudy before the murder, as you have been told numerous times. You are just telling bloody lies now."
Now the Truth and the sources:
In the weeks preceding the murder, Guede had participated in at least three break-ins. In all three cases his involvement was identified to the police. In two of the incidents the police were aware that he was armed with a knife and in one of the cases he had brandished the knife.
On 27-Sep-07 Christian Tramantano found Rudy Guede in his house. Guede was armed with a knife and a scuffle ensued. This incident was reported to the police as Tramantano knew of Guede from his work at local bars.
On 27-Oct-07 Guede was caught on the premises of a school in Milan. He was in possession of a large knife and of property stolen from a law office in Perugia a few days earlier. The police were alerted and instead of arresting Guede they put him back on a train to Perugia.
In sum total the Police had every reason to arrest Guede as they knew of his involvement in three separate break-ins, armed with a knife no less, but they did nothing about it. Because the incompetent Italian police did not arrest Rudy Guede on 27-Oct-07 he was able to murder Meredith Kercher four days later.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=7946289&page=1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1234298/Amanda-Knox-The-troublin...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-27/at-knox-trial-...
http://perugia-shock.blogspot.com/2008/05/monster-in-my-bedroom.html
Amanda Knox who?
It is so boring! You keep putting together some kind of news every other week or so to keep this story alive. Amanda Knox who? How boring! Nothing more interesting to write about? Give it a rest.
Honesty is not Knox's maxim
Are the Knox's really under the mistaken believe that they can pervert the course of justice by buying the murderess free by way of a marketing/PR campaign.
As far as I am concerned murderers need to be locked up.
Amanda is clearly guilty on all counts and she had a fair trial and she will get a fair appeal were i predict the original verdict will be confirmed.
How many violent rape stories has Amanda Knox published?
How many violent rape stories has Amanda Knox published?
How about the riot the organized and for which she was the only person convicted?
HA! In your face all you
HA! In your face all you American haters! Now shut up and FREE AMANDA KNOX!!
Just how backwards are you
Just how backwards are you people? Amanda is guilty? How with what real evidence? Amanda was first found guilty in the media and secondly found guilty by all you mindless sheep and third found guilty by a now proven corrupt legal system. I figure right now all of you now made a fool are only sticking to your guys just to save face. Losers! sad evil losers!
FREE AMANDA KNOX! Or Else.
Why free the murderer?
Amanda Knox is a murderer the evidence against her leaves absolutely no doubt at all.
amanda innocent
If you think Amanda Knox is guilty, then why? Because you heard someone say so? Because you accepted without questioning some myth about a cartwheel or accusing an innocent man? (Not true.) If the information you heard is wrong, then so is your conclusion. If she was your daughter/sister/friend, wouldn’t you want people to listen to both sides of the story before deciding?
http://www.injusticeinperugia.org/
injustice in perugia . org
Amanda and Raffaele are innocent.
No American— no human being of any nationality— should be wrongfully convicted. Amanda and Raffaele are innocent. Many articles were printed over the past two years that are filled with misinformation. Look past false prejudices. Please take time to look at the actual facts of this case. Meredith Kercher and her family deserve justice. Imprisoning two innocent people brings neither peace nor justice for Meredith.
Please check out the facts in this story: 'Amanda Knox, Winner of Media Lottery'.
http://www.sciencespheres.com/2010/03/amanda-knox-winner-of-media-lotter...
innocent
There is currently an organized campaign online to spread lies and misinformation about Amanda Knox. Every comment section of every article is contaminated with these comments. This group of people are known as Guilters. A Guilter is someone that believes in the guilt of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito regardless of any evidence that is presented proving otherwise. A Guilter will continue to believe that Amanda and Raffaele are guilty long after they are acquitted. Guilters are people that bought into all of the lies that were leaked to the press from the beginning of the trial to the present. Guilters continue to spread these lies long after they have been completely refuted. Please look past the distraction of the Guilters. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito have been wrongly convicted. Meredith Kercher had her life stolen from her. Meredith and her family deserve justice. Imprisoning two innocent people will bring no peace and certainly, no justice for Meredith Kercher.
Please take some time and discover the truth today. Please visit: http://www.injusticeinperugia.org
known as guilters
"These people are known as guilters." This sounds an awful lot like the "birthers" that no longer need to be listened to... your multimillion dollar PR campaign hasn't been able to come up with a better slur?
Do the "guilters" contend that she changed her alibi multiple times, shamelessly incriminated an innocent person, turned cartwheels at the police station and made out with her boyfriend during the investigation, and was found with bleach at the scene of the crime on the morning of the crime? How stupid are you people, honestly?
How many times did you use the word 'guilters' in the last post, do you expect it to catch on nationally? Best of luck with that!
"A Guilter is someone that believes in the guilt of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito regardless of any evidence that is presented proving otherwise."
Do you mind if this 'guilter' (sorry, sorry I know, I can't help being what I am, you'll have to excuse me) trots out the fact that the house was obviously scrubbed (hardly any traces of Knox's DNA hardly anywhere! incredible for one's own living space!) but Guede's DNA wasn't scrubbed.
I knew Amanda Knox personally, and I say guilty.
....In-credible.