Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Florence Palace Of Justice Where Sollecito And Knox Are Expected To Be Seen In Court Soon

Posted by Peter Quennell



This is a video of a recent light show. The soundtrack leaves something to be desired, but the huge new courthouse looks amazing at night.

We posted previously here on the new Palazzio di Giustizia, which is one of Europe’s largest and most modern. It only came into full operation this year.

It is reported today in UK newspapers that Knox and Sollecito have just been having a meeting in the vicinity of New York, maybe to sort out a common narrative once and for all. Our betting is that each will appear in the Florence court, not least to keep a close eye on the other and to attempt to warm the judges to themselves.

However, their nasty and dishonest books have not made things any easier for them, and have led to a lot of negative reaction in Italy where they have been discussed on TV. It is easy to spot where in many places the two texts conflict, and also where (as demonstrated in the two post below) they also contradict many accepted well-documented facts of the case.

Both books are being considered as substantial new evidence, and the prosecution will ask the appeal court if they can be included in.

Both books are also being investigated, by the chief prosecutors in Florence and Bergamo for separate new felony charges, as they appear to constitute substantial lllegal attempts along with the internet vilification posted by the likes of Preston, Fischer and the Moores, to inflame and mislead public opinion during an ongoing legal process.

The writers have also sought to undermine the officers of the court, by accusing them of serious crimes, again as illustrated in the two posts directly below. Many Italians and Americans with “relevant information” could be called to testify for the prosecution or the defenses. They will probably be asked to explain their own inflammatory campaigns and may face charges of their own. Again, Preston, Fischer and the Moores seem to have painted targets on their backs. 

Results of both investigations, together with any new charges against Sollecito, Knox, and their entourages, should be made public well before the new appeal of Meredith’s case gets under way.

If the two are indicted on new charges for the books, as expected, that will mean more to explain, more to try to harmonize upon, more goodwill lost, and more legal bills.

If their Italian lawyers recklessly promoted these daft projects, as texts in the books themselves suggest, the lawyers could all face both contempt of court charges and malpractice suits from their clients.

Nice work….

Posted by Peter Quennell on 06/20/13 at 06:43 PM in Appeals 2009-2015Florence 2014+The wider contextsItalian context

Comments

Not directly related to this post, but…

Barbie Latza Nadeau has an article at TDB that references a few points in the Cassation’s report:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/19/italian-court-explains-why-they-overturned-amanda-knox-s-acquittal.html

Also, Sollecito appears to be attempting to crowdsource his appeal. (20 June, The Guardian):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/20/meredith-kercher-murder-raffaele-sollectio-cash-retrial

Posted by Eodril on 06/20/13 at 08:11 PM | #

Thanks a lot Eodril. We have a media roundup coming up. A lot on which to chew. Defense of the two books is expected to cost way more than any royalties earned.

Guess how many similar books have come out in recent years Italy or, for that matter, in the US. Approximately none. These two need to be kept well part for their own good, if its not too late to say that.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 06/20/13 at 08:41 PM | #

BLN wrote:

“...have long suggested that the team was working for the defense, possibly even for monetary gain…”

Worth repeating again and again…

They certainly did not show their scientific professionalism…

IMHO, 1000 times worse than Kassin or Hampikian.

Now you know what happened to the missing millions…

One of them is not even competent to be called an expert.

The proof? They quote american police manuals instead of scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals.

Posted by chami on 06/20/13 at 09:15 PM | #

Peter, “The Mirror” pix of Knox and Raf in New York left me dumbstruck.

Edda looks displeased, and the welcome kiss shows Knox grabbing Raf for comfort and support yet the sad greeting shows her as forlorn and troubled as the kiss outside the murder cottage. In fact, as she releases Raf from the hug, her eyes look terribly unhappy.

I wonder if Dr. Sollecito can bear to see these new returns to folly and desperation? What in the heck is going on? Surely it’s not an international booty call. Desire of that kind must be zilch to Knox, maybe not to Raf but at their ages it’s always a tool.

Is this a linkup to discuss appeal strategies? Knox offering Raf “sanctuary” if he keeps his trap shut a little longer? A time to arrange more TV maybe with both of them on a talkshow together? Raf simply fleeing the Swiss and Bari, safe nowhere? Media tutors, help us out.

Sad but true is these partners in crime have nobody in the world who understands them as well as themselves. Maybe they just want to vent in private. Maybe they’ll throw the book at each other…bad joke.

“The Telegraph” article by Hannah Strange said: “When confornted by the newspaper, the pair were reluctant to discuss their reunion. Knox refused to comment on the Italian ruling or confirm or deny reports that she is refusing to return to Italy to face the court.”

“Sollecito, who also says he has no wish to go back, said, ‘We have everything to do now. We have a lot of planning.’”

“Knox’s mother added, ‘We need to speak to our lawyers.’”

Sounds like she was trying to quell the true sense of Sollecito’s remarks which suggest the two lovebirds are hatching yet another pile of dinosaur eggs from Jurassic Park.

Media reports say they were riding the Subway together. Raf looks oddly carefree on the sidewalk, Amanda and Edda don’t look peaceful. As some commented, this is probably a staged photo op to sell more books by two felony celebrities.

The cassation report fries both of them as so obviously guilty it’s amazing they got away at the first trial. The fact Raf was away at a graduation party and Knox was at her bar job on October 31st night, which then proved the sighting of them together near the cottage must have been the next night of the murder, concludes that the eyewitness account by Curatolo took away their alibi.

Other factors proved he did see them and the lovebirds’ own schedules meant it couldn’t be the night before. The report’s reasoning added to the other sightings, ear witnesses and timing put them squarely in the frame as suspects.

Now the two are back together again. When have they ever really helped each other? They are bad news for each other, how much bigger does someone have to spell it out to them? Didn’t four years in prison make a dent? I agree with Dr. Sollecito on this. It’s a fatal obsession, but now they feel their own importance and are chasing headlines as recklessly as Edward Snowden.

Posted by Hopeful on 06/20/13 at 09:46 PM | #

I’ve always thought that they’ll turn on each other, and Sollecito’s more likely since he’s at greater risk of having to return to Italy. Despite Knox’s occasional hints otherwise, I think she’s determined to avoid returning to Italy.  She’s immersed in an echo chamber saying that she was the victim of an unjust legal system, and combined with her own guilty knowledge, she probably figures she’s safer not submitting to Italian jurisdiction.  And her parents are almost certainly against her returning. But how can Sollecito avoid returning?  Sue for political asylum?  Laughable.  If he returns, it’s likely he’ll go to jail, and I can’t imagine him happily being in custody, still “honor-bound,” while Knox remains free.

Posted by Ceylon on 06/20/13 at 10:33 PM | #

Dr.Sollecito is quoted in “The Daily Mail” about the $500,000 appeal by Raf to fund his retrial:

“This is an initiative of Raffaele’s but it has my full support. I’m no longer in a position to fund a trial which could last another two years. Witnesses will have to be reheard and there is a good chance that new forensic tests will have to be carried out and as such experts and consultants will have to be paid. We are both very grateful for the high attention that has been paid to this case by his lawyers Giulia Bongiorno and Luca Maori.’”

June 20, 2013 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2344908/Amanda-Knoxs-secret-meeting-ex-boyfriend

Posted by Hopeful on 06/20/13 at 10:42 PM | #

Hey Ceylon

Good comment and many think she might try to stay away. Might… Some of us who have really studied the issue are not so sure.

Its really important first for you to read this recent post by our lawyer James Raper, the latest and best of many posts which essentially say the same thing on this issue; the law here in the US wont support her not going back.

http://truejustice.org/ee/index.php?/tjmk/comments/Tips_For_The_Media_2_in_fact_knox_extradition/

Besides it is not really her choice. If she doesnt accept to go back, her own lawyers will insist, and if she ignores them, it only gets worse.  While it is not compulsory that she attend the appeal, at the same time it is a kind of contempt of the court.

Cassation is angry enough as it is, and the Florence court would take a very dim view. A warrant for her arrest would probably be issued and a request made to the Department of Justice to hand her over.

The arrest warrant would be made world-wide. Read what is in the box at the top. We believe State will hand her over in a heartbeat. They have far more important issues with the Italian government than a silly Knox.

The fact that Knox ADMITTED using drugs on the night pretty well means they wont fight for her. (There is a State Department policy on those lines.)

This could even become an issue to be dealt with president to president. I would like that as the Obama administration would have to look at the case; and realise (as the Embassy has) it is very strong.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 06/20/13 at 11:32 PM | #

It seems there’s a backlash to Sollecito begging for money:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... to-1967996

Posted by The Machine on 06/21/13 at 12:08 AM | #

Geez…you make some very strong points against both of them not showing up. That would indeed send a very unfavorable message to the courts.
If they do show up, they risk arrest…
Maybe Frank Sforza/Sfarzo can counsel them on the best way to avoid the courts….
Thanks for your efforts.

Posted by Bettina on 06/21/13 at 12:40 AM | #

Thanks, Peter.  I agree that Knox is very much at risk of getting extradited against her wishes, and that her defense will suffer if she does not attend.  If I had to make a prediction though, I still suspect she’ll resist going back because she may well think she’s likely to be convicted even if she attends, and if she thinks she’s going to be convicted regardless of whether she attends, she’s not going to want to go back.  That’s human nature.

I’ve represented hundreds of clients on the issue of extradition, and the biggest consideration for most of them in deciding whether to contest or waive extradition is whether they can afford to post bail.  If they can, it makes sense to contest, if they can’t it makes sense to waive (unless there’s an identity issue or the contesting state agrees to drop the hold). Despite that, I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve had contest extradition and remain in custody while requesting state attempts to get a governor’s warrant (which they have 90 days to do). 

If they get the warrant, the client goes back to the requesting state in custody, having just wasted 90 days in county jail.  When people are afraid of a lengthy prison term, they make desperate decisions.  I think Knox and Sollecito are terrified of going back to prison,  and that’s why Sollecito went to Switzerland and is now in the U.S.  He sure seems to be avoiding his native country.

Posted by Ceylon on 06/21/13 at 01:48 AM | #

Hi Ceylon

Interesting to read that at the micro legal and psychological level. I am sure you are right.

She was as far as we can tell happy enough in Capanne and though there was not yet softening toward any repentance or regret (which Italians and thei system are big on) didnt have so many years to go.

In early days she seemed set to confess - she actually seemed to like and trust Dr Mignini - and if you can ignore the two made-up accusations in the book examined in the two posts below you can read there how her parents and lawyers warned her off Dr Mignini with Dalla Vedova (an inexperienced business lawyer) playing the main role.

Then she was sprung by (as we believe and Cassation seems to state) illegal means to do with how the unqualified Judge Hellmann replaced the highly qualified Judge Chiari, Then back home she finds herself tied not only to the hotheads Curt Knox and David Marriott but also to the hotheads Moore, Fischer, Sforza, Pruett and co.

Hence the hotheaded book, which in all ways has made her situation worse. Ted Simon and Robert Barnett (who havent spoken up lately) made things even worse by obviously not enforcing any due diligence at all on the book.

So all things are worse for her now, in a way that she didnt do much to help achieve.

I blame her dad most of all. He drove the PR and legal bus, maybe to hide his own role in giving her tough times as a kid, and he has never warned the hotheads to back off. She really needs to distance herself from the book, though having sold 35,000 copies? I dunno.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 06/21/13 at 02:23 AM | #

Is it only me but I find it very strange that Edda followed AK and RS everywhere they went together in NY. AK is an ADULT woman and RS is also an adult man. And Edda looks really concerned. Maybe she is AK’s bodyguard now?

Posted by Hungarian. on 06/21/13 at 04:53 AM | #

Like the guy has ever worked a day in his life!!

http://www.trgmedia.it/notizia/Meredith-il-padre-di-Raffaele-Sollecito-annuncia-quot-Mio-figlio-non-ha-futuro-quot-/55912/news.aspx

Posted by Miriam on 06/21/13 at 01:51 PM | #

The prosecutor Boccassini wishes to be transferred in Firenze.

http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/articoli/1101498/ilda-boccassini-chiede-trasferimento-a-firenze.shtml

Posted by ncountryside on 06/21/13 at 02:55 PM | #

Thanks Peter.  Another reason I think she won’t go back is her mother’s comment to the effect that she wished she had insisted her daughter fly home immediately after the murder.  And as several commenters have noticed, Edda’s acting more like a bodyguard than a mother lately.

Posted by Ceylon on 06/21/13 at 05:28 PM | #

@ncountryside,
Ci mancava solo la Boccassini!

Posted by Miriam on 06/21/13 at 08:25 PM | #

Yes, I did see The Mirror photos as the couple strolled down the street, shadowed by Edda.
I have always been struck at Raffes village idiot kind of optimism, while Amanda has darkened, turned inward and lowers her preoccupied gaze.

Posted by Bettina on 06/22/13 at 12:17 AM | #

Why do AK and RS not “happily” agree to the retesting of the DNA evidence, as it is possible now?  I still do not understand their unwillingness to prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt.  If I were innocent, I would “hellyeah” the retesting of the DNA evidence, as well as all other aspects of the investigation.  They seem so haunted, AK more so than RS, by this veil of secrecy thrust upon them by the PR machine.  I *almost* feel sorry for AK, but she could be proclaiming her innocence, be happy for the new testing of the evidence, and get this all over and done with already.  It almost seems like she has chosen this godawful scenario as the path for her future because it is a sorry way to be famous.  Sad, sad, sad, all the way around.

Posted by zinnia on 06/22/13 at 05:31 AM | #

Hi Zinnia,

Knox and Sollecito knew there is a high possibility that the remaining DNA belonged to Meredith. That’s why they didn’t agree to the new test. It seems there will have no choice on the matter at the appeal.

Posted by The Machine on 06/22/13 at 12:54 PM | #

From TM:  It seems there will have no choice on the matter at the appeal.

DLW on PMF says they have always been amenable to retesting.  I do not know if this is true or not, but if it is… I say go for it!  This tragic story need not be perpetuated if there is a possibility of ending all doubt… TMO

Posted by zinnia on 06/23/13 at 01:34 AM | #

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