A guilty verdict has been reached in the trial of Amanda Knox and Rafaele Sollecito. I’ve been following this case ever since I changed my own mind regarding the certainty of her guilt.

I, along with everyone I know here in Italy, assumed that Ms. Knox was guilty at the beginning – based on what the press had reported. But looking more closely at the case, I began to have my doubts and to wonder if she could have a fair trial since nearly everyone I know was already convinced that she was guilty even before the evidence was reviewed. 

A few days before the verdict, I had had a conversation with an Italian attorney (who had also practiced law in the U.S.) in order to understand the differences in the legal system in Italy and that of the U.S. Our legal system is also flawed and sometimes innocent people are convicted in the U.S. as well. But juries are usually sequestered. The press painted a very ugly picture of Amanda Knox from the beginning and most people have believed this image. I’m not so sure anymore.