[DongoSab]

Fabrizio --

What are prison conditions like in Italy? Not that you would have any first-hand encounters (I would hope not anyway ), but on the whole do you think the prison system (aside from the judiciary, which you characterize as screwy) is fairly humane? Compared to the US? The rest of the EU?

Just curious.

[TughEmotteTug]

Capanne Prison - where Amanda Knox is being held.

http://www.truejustice.org/ee/index.php?/tjmk/C194/



I suppose depending on future circumstances and appeals, there is always the possibility of the Americans negotiating with the Italians in order that Knox be moved to a prison in the US to serve her sentence.

[logpogingg]

What are prison conditions like in Italy?

I imagine not good... for women it might be different though. I don't know.

[galaktiusman]

In today's Times of London:

The Kercher trial: Amanda Knox snared by her lust and her lies

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6945967.ece

[lXwVlTgO]

...I pointed out over and over again in the Berlusconi thread that our justice system, our courts and our judges are beyond screwy. Luca mentioned the same...The above article also does not mention the importance of the press here in influencing outcomes and our activist journalists.

I also think the article too readily pushes aside anti-Americanism. Our courts (again I mentioned a million times in the Berlusconi thread) are highly politicized. And the Italian left despises the US... so I can just imagine the thrill of being able to send an American to jail.

And in Italy, if you are charged with something, you are guilty until proven innocent.

And Fabrizio, in such a dysfunctional system, what would you say if you found yourself accused tomorrow of something you hadn't done?

[QysnZWB4]

How would anyone feel? What's your point?

[Lebybynctisee]

^ Harsh. (And now an edited post.)

.

[ppfpooghn]

Yup. Mentioning me was totally unnecessary to make his point.

[dabibibff]

Ablarc: perhaps I'm missing something. You asked "in such a dysfunctional system, what would you say if you found yourself accused tomorrow of something you hadn't done?" Well, what would anyone say? This stinks? It's terrible? Honestly: I don't understand your point... and I'm simply asking for clarification.

If for some reason you see that as a harsh reply (post #26) ... then I truly apologise. But you'll have to excuse me for not getting it. I don't know how else to answer your question.

[CHEAPPoem]

Ablarc's reply was to a post that has since been deleted.

[Knqzjbmf]

We even had Midtown posting articles by no-nothing American journalists claiming that... Fabrizio: Make no mention of me. It is totally unnecessary to make your point. Let's keep the peace.

[Stappipsy]

The other part of this is that the US is very much anti-Italian and likes to deride Italy.

If this verdict occurred in Germany, Britain or Israel, for example, the US press would accept it.

[nithhysfusy]

The other part of this is that the US is very much anti-Italian and likes to deride Italy.

True. (Although there is also a very knowlegable and sophisticated group of Americans that find Italy's culture and way-of-life superior in many ways.)

And notice too, that the European press has not come out in favour of Knox.

-----

My point is that every country and culture is different and in Italy's case sometimes vastly different.

Just from that article posted: “It’s a strange case to American ears” , "in the context of Italy’s complicated judicial system, and its stark differences with the legal process in the United States", "in a sharp departure from American jurisprudence", "“In the United States, character evidence does not come to play in the trial unless the defendant puts it in play,” Mr. Fletcher said. .... The prosecution can’t come into court and say my guy is a bad guy....". "In another departure from American law..."

Also I can't tell enough how important behavior is here. I can't believe no one told this girl that she was acting like an idiot in court ... passing out chocolates, putting her head down sleeping, cart-wheels at the police station... my God girl...in Italy that alone would be enough to sway a judge.

--

[Escamsrasiush]

If for some reason you see that as a harsh reply (post #26) ... then I truly apologise. But you'll have to excuse me for not getting it. I don't know how else to answer your question.

Ablarc's reply was to a post that has since been deleted.

Yeah, Fabrizio, I was actually defending you. You got thoroughly cussed out by your nemesis (you-know-who); he even included the f-word. Alonzo apparently deleted it, and the rest of the post as well.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Inadvertent.



Btw, of course I know what you'd think if you got accused of something you didn't do! It's just that it seems that lamentable situation is more possible in Italy, under the rules.

[pharmaclid]

I really don't know.

It's a very strange situation here... very mixed. Lot's of little things: I don't know about the US but here you can be stopped on the street and be asked for ID and questioned for no reason. Your car can be stopped and searched as a matter of course. Judges have an incredible amount of power. You are considered quilty until proven innocent. Trials take for ever and ever. It's a mess.

But then again: it would be interesting to compare our incarceration rates with yours. I'll bet ours are a fraction....

[interbaoui]

The other part of this is that the US is very much anti-Italian and likes to deride Italy.

If this verdict occurred in Germany, Britain or Israel, for example, the US press would accept it.

This is circumstantial at best since most Americans have a romantic fascination with Italy. It is a country glorified in US classrooms from an early age for it's history of art and architecture, it's Roman roots, and it's cultural leanings in food and leisure. The same cannot be said about Germany or Britain.

Still, it's hard to look past the anti-American sentiment that perverted the Italian media and public on this trial.

[markkisil]

The silly girl couldn't keep her stories straight.

Short term memory loss? That hash-laced pot can be powerful.

Plus, her accusation against her boss (hmmm, blame the black guy defense?) really puts her in a bad light. Once she played that angle everything about her seems dicey. Couple that with the lies about the cell phones (which seems to have been constructed to create an alibi for her and the Italian boyfriend) any jury would consider her testimony to be untrustworthy.

And why the singular outrage at the verdict against Ms. Knox? What about concern for the Italian boyfriend, who by most accounts was with with the young lady during the entire time when Ms. Kercher was being killed, and who was also found guilty. If Amanda is innocent then so is he, right?

Only the pretty white girl gets the attention of the media.

[Lt_Apple]

...most Americans have a romantic fascination with Italy. It is a country glorified in US classrooms from an early age for it's history of art and architecture, its Roman roots, and its cultural leanings in food and leisure.

Actually, don't most Americans think Italians are cosa nostra?

[Beedcardabeme]

And why the singular outrage at the verdict against Ms. Knox?

American media.

What about concern for the Italian boyfriend, who by most accounts was with with the young lady during the entire time when Ms. Kercher was being killed, and who was also found guilty. If Amanda is innocent then so is he, right?

Only the pretty white girl gets the attention of the media.

Italian boyfriend's white too, right?

(And actually, he's as pretty as she is.)

[FredderiK]

Rafaelle Sollecito does make for a good photograph:





And like most Italian men, he knows how to tie a scarf.



They both have an intense Franco Zeffirelli thing going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LOfgaSvKz8