Amanda Knox Trial

[Garm]

Unless you're in Texas or Georgia.

Unless you can show me that Texas/Georgia has a higher conviction rate for murder than the rest of the US, I am going to have to disagree.

Just a throw away line referencing Troy Davis and Rick Perry's executions record.

[Malice]

Unless you're in Texas or Georgia.

Unless you can show me that Texas/Georgia has a higher conviction rate for murder than the rest of the US, I am going to have to disagree.

Just a throw away line referencing Troy Davis and Rick Perry's executions record.

The death penalty is one thing, but as far as I know neither Troy Davis nor anyone executed during Rick Perry's governorship were prosecuted repeatedly despite verdicts of innocence. You might disagree with the way those states' criminal justice systems work (I know I do) but that doesn't mean they don't abide by the fundamental tenets of American jurisprudence.

[Hemmers]

On a lighter note, I like how the Daily Mail Posted the Wrong Story, saying she had been found guilty. While it's entirely reasonable to write up multiple stories ahead of time, it's a little disturbing (though not too surprising, given the source) that they even had supposed reactions from Knox. Who cares if what we write is true, as long as it sells, right?

The BBC did the exact same thing a few years ago. A gun collector with an historically significant collection of Wild West-era firearms was arrested on charges that he was selling his guns onto the black market (because an ancient S&W in an obsolete calibre that will likely blow up in your face with a modern powder load is exactly what the modern gangsta is after. Apparently ).

The trial took about 6 months, half way through the judge threw out more than half of the 24 or so charges the prosecutors had leveled against him.
When he was found innocent of all charges the BBC put a story live about how he'd been found guilty, including a quote from a senior police officer saying he was clearly a dangerous and calculating individual with links to the criminal underworld, etc, etc.
I found it somewhat disturbing that a police officer was commenting or even speculating to a member of the press on the outcome of a case in which he was involved before a verdict was reached. But then the Public Prosecutors were stubborn, even after the defendant had explained the law better than the prosecutors were able to, they persisted in pursuing the remaining charges that the judge hadn't thrown out.
As an aside, the Police still haven't returned a significant number of items to his collection, despite the judge stating that he was totally free and went from the court without blemish, and it would be churlish of the Police not to return his property immediately. This was quite a high-profile case - the Police were singing their own praises about how they'd "busted" this major black market ring but were eventually made to look very stupid. As with the Italian prosecutors in the Knox case, when their case started falling apart around them they became very unhelpful and desperate to save face rather than doing the adult thing and gracefully saying. "No, we're wrong, our evidence has been shown to be of poor or non-existent quality. Our apologies to the defendant for wasting their time, we withdraw our case."

[Dark567]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-gre ... 93820.html

This is an interesting theory on Knox, which claims that Knox's privilege led her to believe the law and justice system were always on her side, and why she gave her cooperation.

[Adacore]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-greenfield/amanda-knox-why-she-won_b_993820.html

This is an interesting theory on Knox, which claims that Knox's privilege led her to believe the law and justice system were always on her side, and why she gave her cooperation.

That's a good point. As a relatively sheltered, white, middle-class man I certainly hold an inherent belief that the justice system is (so long as I have done nothing wrong) on my side, and if I can give any investigators an honest account of the truth then I'll be fine. I would imagine many/most people from more deprived backgrounds do not hold this view, distrust the justice system and believe that investigators are always out to try and nail them with something, even if they're actually innocent.

I'm not sure if it has as much bearing on the fact that the case got an appeal and acquittal as the article claims (I, demonstrating my aforementioned faith in the justice system, believe that would've happened anyway), but the core basis for the story is, I feel, completely accurate.

[emceng]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-greenfield/amanda-knox-why-she-won_b_993820.html

This is an interesting theory on Knox, which claims that Knox's privilege led her to believe the law and justice system were always on her side, and why she gave her cooperation.

That's a good point. As a relatively sheltered, white, middle-class man I certainly hold an inherent belief that the justice system is (so long as I have done nothing wrong) on my side, and if I can give any investigators an honest account of the truth then I'll be fine. I would imagine many/most people from more deprived backgrounds do not hold this view, distrust the justice system and believe that investigators are always out to try and nail them with something, even if they're actually innocent.

I'm not sure if it has as much bearing on the fact that the case got an appeal and acquittal as the article claims (I, demonstrating my aforementioned faith in the justice system, believe that would've happened anyway), but the core basis for the story is, I feel, completely accurate.

I am also a bit of a sheltered middle class person. That said I have friends on a local police force. Both from them directly telling me, and from stories they've told, the number one thing to do when questioned by the police is to SAY NOTHING. Say you'll say nothing without a lawyer, then shut the fuck up until one shows up.

[buddy431]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-greenfield/amanda-knox-why-she-won_b_993820.html

This is an interesting theory on Knox, which claims that Knox's privilege led her to believe the law and justice system were always on her side, and why she gave her cooperation.

That's a good point. As a relatively sheltered, white, middle-class man I certainly hold an inherent belief that the justice system is (so long as I have done nothing wrong) on my side, and if I can give any investigators an honest account of the truth then I'll be fine. I would imagine many/most people from more deprived backgrounds do not hold this view, distrust the justice system and believe that investigators are always out to try and nail them with something, even if they're actually innocent.

I'm not sure if it has as much bearing on the fact that the case got an appeal and acquittal as the article claims (I, demonstrating my aforementioned faith in the justice system, believe that would've happened anyway), but the core basis for the story is, I feel, completely accurate.

I am also a bit of a sheltered middle class person. That said I have friends on a local police force. Both from them directly telling me, and from stories they've told, the number one thing to do when questioned by the police is to SAY NOTHING. Say you'll say nothing without a lawyer, then shut the fuck up until one shows up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

[Dauric]

I am also a bit of a sheltered middle class person. That said I have friends on a local police force. Both from them directly telling me, and from stories they've told, the number one thing to do when questioned by the police is to SAY NOTHING. Say you'll say nothing without a lawyer, then shut the fuck up until one shows up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

Frontline: The Confessions
Four Navy sailors are convicted of the murder and rape of one woman with no evidence but the confessions badgered out of them over 8 hours of interrogations each.

[LtNOWIS]

I don't think Rick Perry has executed many more people per year than other Texan governors; it's just that he's been governor for a very long time. And I don't think Texas executes more people per capita than a lot of other states. It simply has more people than say, Oklahoma or Virginia.

[Malice]

I don't think Rick Perry has executed many more people per year than other Texan governors; it's just that he's been governor for a very long time. And I don't think Texas executes more people per capita than a lot of other states. It simply has more people than say, Oklahoma or Virginia.

Texas has executed more people per capita than any other state except Oklahoma (period: 1976-2011). Cite

[Arrian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

Don't forget part 2, the police officer's perspective.

[Роберт]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

Don't forget part 2, the police officer's perspective.

He didn't.

[cjmcjmcjmcjm]

If you're a reasonably attractive white woman, this is a great year to murder someone.

[Jesse]

If you're a reasonably attractive white woman, this is a great year to allegedly murder someone.

[ibgdude]

I'm going to go on an alleged murder rampage!

[Vash]

I'm going to go on an alleged murder rampage!

I'm going to allegedly murder so many people that entire towns will be allegedly murdered. We should allegedly conspire.