Update: Amanda Knox back in Seattle, thanks supporters

Kristine October 4, 2011 (6:02 pm)

Welcome home, Amanda! I hope you get some much needed rest, and that the media respects you and your family’s privacy.

Joey D. October 4, 2011 (6:03 pm)

Welcome Home, Amanda!

sarah October 4, 2011 (6:05 pm)

omg these people need to leave her & her poor family alone!!!! and if they start to back up 106th i’m going to be really irritated lol they live like 3 blocks from me and there is already a small swarm of them!

homesick October 4, 2011 (6:09 pm)

FINALLY!!!
Welcome Home Amanda.

onceachef October 4, 2011 (6:10 pm)

There here! Welcome home Amanda…everyone else – leave her alone!

Amanda Supporter October 4, 2011 (6:14 pm)

WELCOME HOME AMANDA!!!

Karen Cody October 4, 2011 (6:19 pm)

Welcome home, Amanda. Seattle loves you.

Julie October 4, 2011 (6:20 pm)

Okay–helicopters? Really? News people, get a grip!

Meredith Kercher Is Not Forgotten October 4, 2011 (6:21 pm)

The notorious Amanda Knox should be left alone, but I highly doubt that is what she would want.

Smurmary October 4, 2011 (6:21 pm)

I HOPE AMANDA KNOX NEVER FORGETS WHAT SHE DID AND HOW SHE LIED TO EVERYONE ABOUT IT. SHAME. SHAME.

monosyllabic girl October 4, 2011 (6:26 pm)

Wow, most media units on West Seattle soil ever.

West Seattle 8 October 4, 2011 (6:28 pm)

Seems like Curt Knox is loving the Camera. I think I would want to be inside with my daughter and not on the lawn answering questions for his daughter who he has really not been able to really talk to in four years. Let her speak for herself Curt and get your ego out of the way.

WSB October 4, 2011 (6:44 pm)

A friend listening more closely to the interview than I could said he said something about “you’ll never find her” – apparently she is at an “undisclosed location.”

Lisa A October 4, 2011 (6:30 pm)

Will the helicopters stop once it’s dark? They are annoying me.

Barbara October 4, 2011 (6:35 pm)

Welcome home Amanda!!!

Amy October 4, 2011 (6:35 pm)

Your interview made me cry Amanda, welcome home to West Seattle. I hope you find some peace and quiet and uninterrupted time with your family and friends.

Dizzle October 4, 2011 (6:41 pm)

Apparently all the Italian law experts live in West Seattle and have conducted their own independent investigations of this case! She is deemed innocent, get over it!!

avalon resident October 4, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Wow cold and heartless people can’t believe you are this rude. I’m sure if this happened to your child you would of been the one talking as well. I’m guessing He went home to distract the media to leave her alone.

Anyways, Welcome Home Amanda! Glad you are back!

Jiggers October 4, 2011 (6:44 pm)

R.I.P. Meredith..I will say the guilty one’s will have their day of judgment in front of God when the time comes.

avalon resident October 4, 2011 (6:45 pm)

Well said Dizzle!

Eddie October 4, 2011 (6:45 pm)

Undisclosed location = Trivia night at Beveridge Place.

bj October 4, 2011 (6:45 pm)

What a shame that such mean things are being said by such small minded people. Can’t you keep your negative comments to yourselves for just ONE day. Until we have walked in their shoes let’s not judge.

Alki Resident October 4, 2011 (6:46 pm)

West Seattle8-Amanda is not there with Kurt,she is somewhere else.He had the courtesy to answer every question they had,the faster he does this the more apt to get media to leave faster.
Smurmary-you CLEARLY have a lot of hate in you and Im glad to not know someone like you.Amanda is a sweetheart and did nothing to Meredith.

CA October 4, 2011 (6:48 pm)

Meredith, I love you and always will, I know youll tell me what happend when I see you on the other side. It seems as if no one cares about your death, but your family does.

AHMOM October 4, 2011 (6:50 pm)

it was nice of them to show his address on TV. Not that the huge news crews weren’t a good clue.

CA October 4, 2011 (6:50 pm)

And the sad thing is, in America we will embrace her as celebrity and not focus on the tragic death of my family member. Truly sad…..

smidleydiddley@yahoo.com October 4, 2011 (6:51 pm)

NIce work Amanda!! Faked out them out. I tried booing them down earlier this afternoon when the flew out here about an hour ago. Crazy. Give her a break. Media, you already got “a glimpse” leave.

WS commuter October 4, 2011 (6:55 pm)

I don’t understand the haters … wish they’d go away from W. Seattle blog – this isn’t the forum.

Everyone feels terribly for the Kercher family – they suffered a horrible tragedy. But rejoicing in Ms. Knox’ freedom is not mutually exclusive with feeling great empathy for the victim of this terrible crime.

Unless, of course (see Jiggers, et al), one thinks Ms. Knox is guilty. I can’t explain that bit of silliness, but they are there, clearly.

Peace unto both families.

Westside J. October 4, 2011 (6:56 pm)

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.. And if you really believe she did it, you’re wrong. There’s mine!

Welcome home Amanda!

Resident3 October 4, 2011 (6:56 pm)

The helicopters were nice and stayed high so no air chopping noises. This was a global story, I am glad to be close to the positive excitement of welcoming her home.

Jiggers October 4, 2011 (6:57 pm)

Shadowland will most likely be a near future dineout spot for the foxy knoxy clan since they had a big fundraiser for her earlier this year. I bet this comment gets taken off..

Reality October 4, 2011 (6:59 pm)

Wonders why everyone is in love with a con artist. What about the victim’s family? Bizarre world we live in when the criminals are celebrated but the victims are forgotten.

Christoph October 4, 2011 (7:04 pm)

Welcome back to our West Seattle Amanda… finally, the Italian justice system looked at the FACTS!!!!

AHMOM October 4, 2011 (7:06 pm)

AND the story is on Entertainment Tonight?!? This is out of hand.

Guy October 4, 2011 (7:08 pm)

Welcome back!!! Party at The Yen Wor this Thursday night!!

justme October 4, 2011 (7:11 pm)

what a waste of news coverage.

Chris October 4, 2011 (7:13 pm)

Assuming there is a god, jigg-nut

MSL October 4, 2011 (7:20 pm)

Smurmary – shame on YOU for assuming you know what happened and for your lack of belief in someone from your own country. Perhaps you should keep your thoughts to youself and go work for the prosecutor in Italy.

T October 4, 2011 (7:25 pm)

Welcome home. I hope you find peace, love, and support. Hopefully the rest of us can refrain from judgement.

MSL October 4, 2011 (7:30 pm)

Smurmary – you should shame youself not Amanda.

Sonoma October 4, 2011 (7:45 pm)

While I doubt that Amanda murdered anyone, I do wish our returning soldiers and other real heroes would get this kind of warm welcome.

Casey October 4, 2011 (7:48 pm)

Just because people are supporters of amanda’s freedom does not mean we have forgotten Meredith. I however am from Amanda’s hometown and not Meredith’s..I sure hope they have the support of their neighborhood as well. It is a great tragedy to lose a family member and especially in this way. If people really think Amanda is guilty then she will face judgement later but it’s not up to us to crucify her for what the Italian courts decision was. If she truly is innocent, then could you imagine being locked up for four years and away from your family in a foreign country?! I really hope that people can respect her privacy now (she never asked for this media attention) and let her get back into some sort of freedom.

Ws resident October 4, 2011 (7:51 pm)

At this point no matter what people believe a decision has been made and she should be left in peace. I also think it is extremely unwise on the part of our news stations to film her home or relative’s home and for a helicopter to be flying over her house.

J242 October 4, 2011 (7:59 pm)

So glad she made it back!!! Seriously, there needs to be a film about this to tell her story of what she went through AND to highlight the fact that they still have NOT captured the ACTUAL killers! For now, just having Amanda home is more than acceptable, it’s fantastic in every way!

Welcome home Amanda!!!

ca October 4, 2011 (8:03 pm)

To WS Commuter FYI

blog/blôg/Verb: Add new material to or regularly update a blog.
Noun: A Web site on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis.

So we are all entitled so opionions whether we agree with each other or not. That is why we live here in the USA.

Sonoma agree 110% I hope our soldiers get this huge media when they come home, they deserve it without a doubt.

AHMOM yeah, I heard that on radio and a commercial she was top story. SMH.

Shannon October 4, 2011 (8:04 pm)

Welcome home, Amanda! So glad to have you home in West Seattle where you belong.

Friends praying for you October 4, 2011 (8:45 pm)

Dear Amanda and family,
Welcome home to West Seattle. We share in your joy and are thankful to God that you are back home. Enjoy your well deserved freedom.
Blessings.
Your fellow West Seattlites

liveherenow October 4, 2011 (8:53 pm)

The posts admonishing people for not believing Amanda Knox simply because she’s American are beyond simplistic. Following this logic, I’m wondering who to support in cases where an American is accused of a crime against another American. Do I look on Google Maps and see whether the victim or the suspect lives closest to me and choose who to believe based on proximity? This is going to get complicated and time consuming…

g@alki October 4, 2011 (8:56 pm)

Welcome home Amanda ! Press, ease up please. Let her rest !

Dunno October 4, 2011 (9:01 pm)

You people posting without a clue:

1. Amanda was not a the house on 32nd. Kurt very giving of his time not only to the media but the many neighboors that were there to welcome him home. This has been a very grueling ordeal for all memebers of the family, he’s been a wonderful spokesman taking time to help those trying to do thier jobs.

2. So sorry you were irratated by the helicopter. Try living closer to Sea-Tac airport. Why do you live in a city? Try North Dakota, things are very quite there.

3. Many of those you saw were neighbors, and knowing Curt, he appreaciated thier support this homecoming day, in fact his wife came around the crowd and said hello and thank them for the support. Many were neighboors!

4. If the crowd is there tommorow, yes, that’s not cool, hopefully there will be a public gathering in the future. This family is deep, deep, deep in debt! I look forward in helping anyway I can.

5. Go ahead be the judge, but do you really know all the facts?

6. Those of you still pissed, your life is impacted by this? Really? I’ve learned not to throw stones from a glass house. Look at yourself, before you judge others.

7. You want inconvience, the viaduct shutdown countdown is down to days.

Courtney October 4, 2011 (9:12 pm)

Welcome home, Amanda. I hope you get some much needed R&R. Surround yourself with the people you love and don’t let the media get to you.

cj October 4, 2011 (9:16 pm)

Omgosh! Welcome home Amanda! This may sound weird but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted even though I only know of her though the media.

j October 4, 2011 (9:31 pm)

I always love coming home after you’ve been gone from home for a while. I can only imagine how wonderful it must he to finally get home after being stuck somewhere for so long. Welcome back.

West Seattle 8 October 4, 2011 (9:36 pm)

Alki Resident: And you know she is innocent how? I am not saying she is guilty, something happened that night and I think Amanda knows a lot more than she is saying and when she was talking she did a lot of swinging around with her stories. If she was completely innocent why didn’t she stick to a story and not flip flop? Yeah, I know, police brutality. No matter, whatever happened, and whatever she knows, she has to live with it. As far as me being full of hate…there is a dead girl that didn’t get complete justice for what happen to her…but she knows the truth at least.

Yossarian October 4, 2011 (9:36 pm)

Sonoma- Excellent point. That kind of puts things in perspective….

Lisa Dee October 4, 2011 (9:40 pm)

Welcome, welcome, welcome home. Best wishes to you in the months ahead as you recover from your ordeal. God Bless Meredith and her family.

Mark October 4, 2011 (9:46 pm)

Sonoma (above at 7:45pm):

I agree with you.

Amanda October 4, 2011 (9:47 pm)

From one Amanda to another – Welcome Home girl. I hope you can adjust in a healthy and positive way. Good luck and wish you all the luck you haven’t had for the future!

To the media: leave her alone!!!

kate October 4, 2011 (9:58 pm)

Hey, do you guys think Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are really married?

kc October 4, 2011 (10:10 pm)

Why is everyone saying that the real murderer needs to be caught? There is someone in jail for this crime whose DNA (blood and semen) was all over at the scene and he admitted the crime!

Marcia October 4, 2011 (10:16 pm)

To the poster who thought Curt Knox was eating up the air-time, and not visting with his daughter inside—-if you had listened to all of his comments, Amanda wasn’t even there at his house; she was somewhere else, for privacy!

CurtisM October 4, 2011 (10:39 pm)

I’m amazed at how much I’ve cared about this. I don’t know Amanda, but given her age and her schools, I know that I’m not more than two degrees away. I guess what really gets me is that it could so easily be someone I know that was caught up in this nightmare. As for Amanda’s guilt or innocence, everything in the non-tabloid media that I have read indicates that Ms. Knox has been the victim of the railroad job from hell. Welcome home Amanda and God Bless You.

To those that are reading this blog that knew Ms. Kercher, know that those of us who believe Amanda, believe in her innocence, not that she got away with anything. Your loss must be so fresh and painful today. Blessings to you as well.

Dunno October 4, 2011 (10:46 pm)

I love the shots at the media. The ones that will help the Knox family get out from under a mountain of debt. Spot on Marcia, and Kurt understands how much the media has meant to this case. The whole thing could have easily been swept under the rug. BTW, the West Seattle Blog is the media, and here you post.

Mitch October 4, 2011 (10:49 pm)

Welcome home, Amanda and family. We’re proud of you.
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As a side note – I hope someone is keeping an eye on ‘jiggers’. This guy has some serious problems.

sj2 October 4, 2011 (10:59 pm)

Sonoma – Could not have said it better. Thanks!

Smitty October 4, 2011 (11:13 pm)

Haters.

Get.

A.

Life.

Aman October 4, 2011 (11:32 pm)

Amanda Knox home today in West Seattle, YEA!!! Justice has been served. Welcome home neighbor…

NotMe October 5, 2011 (12:02 am)

Wow… there are people that actually think it is wrong to post an opposing view on here. I can’t understand that kind of thinking.
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Sonoma, thanks for the perspective.

ohmygosh October 5, 2011 (12:20 am)

Welcome back home, Amanda.

All of the people that have posted here with inside knowledge of what actually happened in Italy ought to go there and talk to the police! Offer your help if you were in that apartment and saw what happened.Of course they would probably toss YOU in jail for a few years if you did since you seem to know so much about it.

Oh, you weren’t there??? So just speculation. I thought so.That’s all any of us can do since we were not there.

Peace to Merediths family . She has not been forgotten.

wsguy October 5, 2011 (12:56 am)

I don’t know how anyone could have a factual opinion on guilt or innocents if your only source of info is the media. But one thing is for sure this young girls family went to the ends of the earth for her and that speaks volumes to me.

WS Suzanne October 5, 2011 (1:44 am)

To be wrongly accused and go through all that Amanda (along with her family) has endured for four long years, and then respond with such grace and dignity is remarkable. She and her family are fantastic. Their unwavering love, respect, and support for each other are an inspiration. The world would be a far better place if more of us has this kind of foundation.

Timothy Eagan’s piece in the NY Times provides perspective on this story — http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/justice-in-perugia/?hp

Amanda — We are holding you and your family in our prayers, as well as Meredith’s family.

Mitch — I’ve been thinking the same thing.

DMB October 5, 2011 (6:20 am)

Yeah! WS is real! Thanks Amanda !

hola October 5, 2011 (7:06 am)

AMEN WSGUY! So happy for Amanda’s friends and family. What a life-changing ordeal. Best wishes to Amanda and her family as they readjust to what one can only claim a “new normal”.

ca October 5, 2011 (7:31 am)

funny there are multiple people stating on here about the “haters” who think (such as my self) she is guilty in some form, ex: knows more details etc etc. And say “how do you know she is guilty”….well how the heck do you know she is innocent?! Geeze people, isn’t that a little hypocritical. No one really will ever know tht full truth, so whatever our opinions/thoughts/beliefs are, DEAL WITH IT.

Steph in WS October 5, 2011 (7:43 am)

@wsguy, yes, the fact that her parents, family and friends did all they could for 4 years is a big deal. I have never heard of a family of a person that has been wrongfully incarcerated spend so much money and do what they did. They would not have done so much if they had any doubt at all. They could have just said “my daughter would never do that” and “I didn’t raise her like that” which I have heard from many mothers when their kids were guilty of a crime.
And to the people who say Meredith is forgotten. She is not. I have heard so much about her and that people have not forgotten. Take a look around and you will see that. The real killer is behind bars. RIP Meredith.

bsmomma October 5, 2011 (8:09 am)

Maybe I know nothing about military Homecomings, but don’t they arrive on a Military Base that civilians are not allowed on? In NO WAY am I trying to downgrade Military homecomings because I believe it is a blessing for everyone when they arrive home safely. Maybe if we lived closer to a Base we would see more local celebration? And doesn’t the news cover it as well as they can? If I am way off, please excuse me.

Darkseid October 5, 2011 (8:11 am)

The pro-Knox crowd has become a venomous, sanctimonious mob. Not to mention sappy.

Jiggers October 5, 2011 (8:28 am)

Her ever changing stories and lies to investigators, smoking pot, drinking alcohol, getting sexual with her boyfriend, wanted to engage in sexual acts with Kercher. Too bad Merdith can’t speak in her own self defense. If Guede didn’t confess, Knox wouldn’t have been released. Blonde girl gets a pass. Knox should have been at the very least been held on accessory to murder. The prosecuting team messed up. This is on the same level as the Casey Anthony mystery. I’m sure Knox was in the same city when Kercher was stabbed. Why don’t we hold a fundraiser for Meredith Kercher’s family eh?

KarinE October 5, 2011 (8:42 am)

Thanks to the WS blog for covering this story without being a part of the media circus!

Cclarue October 5, 2011 (8:47 am)

So happy for her and her very dedicated family!! She is so blessed to have them.

Mary Ellen October 5, 2011 (8:51 am)

It’s just really nice to see a big smile on her face. Welcome home!

DBurns October 5, 2011 (9:15 am)

No matter what you think of this situation, you cannot ignore the joy on her mother’s face in this photo. Priceless.

Attorney October 5, 2011 (9:46 am)

A horrible thing happened to Ms. Kercher, that horrible event permanently impacts the lives of her friends and family. Sadly, the Italian prosecutor further exacerbated the personal and social damage by accusing (and convicting in the media and at the first trial) two innocent people. An additional and severe harm was also inflicted on the Kercher family, Ms. Knox, and Mr. Sollecito, and society as a whole by permanently casting doubt in the minds of many on the innocence of Ms. Knox and Mr. Sollecito and the guilt of anyone else, including the individual who has been previously convicted and admitted to being present and having sex with the victim that evening.

youngsters October 5, 2011 (9:49 am)

Posters on here saying that people with opposing views are “haters” — must be very naive and probably in their early 20’s, or younger, and do not understand that their own personal opinion, that Amanda is innocent, probably seems hateful to those who do not believe she is innocent — do you get that point? That is what the problem is with opposing view points!!! That is why the discourse.

Having a different opinion than say, YOU, does not mean a person is a hater. Lots and lots of people the world over do not agree that Amanda is necessarily innocent (recall that OJ was also found innocent, and Casey Anthony — so do you agree with those verdicts, for example?)

I predict — and I have no special inside knowledge and do not pretend to be any kind of expert — just your average joe who has been also reading the news.. but again, I predict she will be in the news again over some other suspicious weird/criminal/sensational issue within the next 12 months.

I do realize that there is a guy who certainly did commit crimes against Meredith who has been tried and is in prison already – so that is a relief. Hopefully Amanda and her family can go back to life as it was before the murder. If she really wants to put it behind her, then no book or movie deal right away — look at other girls who went through worse hell and did NOT eat up the media attention — such as the Dugard girl and Elizabeth Smart. They kept their stories private for some time.

Amanda’s Dad could have been with her at the undisclosed location and sent someone else to the home to answer questions. Wonder why he didn’t?

Hopefully lots of other naive American young people will learn from her ordeal, that if you go to a foreign country, you behave carefully, not irresponsibly and in a juvenile fashion — you get to know the laws and the legal system. Italy has had a long reputation around their legal proceedings, just saying.

Lisa Y October 5, 2011 (9:55 am)

Very classy of Komo, King and Kiro to sign an agreement to leave Amanda and her family alone.

sun*e October 5, 2011 (9:59 am)

@Comment by CurtisM — October 4, 11 10:39 pm:
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. And, to one point you made: “everything in the non-tabloid media that I have read indicates that Ms. Knox has been the victim of the railroad job from hell” – yes, from what I’ve read, Amanda was a victim in her own right – a victim of the Italian “justice” system. I’m glad her nightmare is over.
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Welcome home Amanda! Enjoy your freedom!
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To the family and friends of Ms. Kercher – May you find peace.

AHMom October 5, 2011 (10:21 am)

1. Welcome home Amanda! It is obvious that you have a very loving family and your Dad is NOT an egomaniac…only the person who posted that.

2. Meredith has not been forgotten and it is an asolute travisity to her family for the way the Italian police, investigators and judicial system conducted themselves. The man whose DNA was all over the crime scene got a reduced sentence. A proper invesigation was not done when it should have been and it may never get resolved. Even more of a travisity to punish two innocent people

3.To the news hog complainers – you can blame both the Italian and British news media for sensationalizing the crime before the trial and for their smear campaign.

4. Comparing Amanda’s homecoming to that of the military is not fair. Most military personnel serve by choice. Innocent people do not choose to go to jail.

5. Feel sorry the mean spirited posters. They are obviously not happy people. They probably just want to be heard and the negative gets the attention.

Attorney October 5, 2011 (10:23 am)

Regarding Ms. Knox “eating up” the media attention. I don’t understand this position. She has been in prison for 4 years, having no ability to solicit media attention. So far, she has made a statement to the media that lasted less than 1 minute. People with this position have not thought it out.

Denise October 5, 2011 (10:23 am)

Having read the Massei report from cover to cover, I completely agree with the comment that “youngsters” made….

To those of you who are basing your opinion on what you hear in the media, I encourage you to read this report.

Alicia October 5, 2011 (10:28 am)

So happy you are home and free Amanda!

Dean October 5, 2011 (10:51 am)

Welcome home Amanda! Just to finally see your wonderful mothers’ face beaming with joy brings us ALL joy! Please give her a big hug from your fellow West Seattleites. That picture tells it all.

bridge to somewhere October 5, 2011 (10:58 am)

welcome back amanda–can’t imagine the stress you’ve been under. hopefully you find comfort and happiness back here in seattle!

Darkseid October 5, 2011 (11:11 am)

I didn’t realize having an opposing opinion is now considered “mean-spirited.” The pro-Knox crowd has gone off the rails.

Kayleigh October 5, 2011 (11:12 am)

Attorney, her parents hired a PR firm from the start. What part of that is NOT seeking media attention? They sought it and worked it to their advantage. I make no judgment on that and I’d have probably done the same thing in their shoes, but let’s call a spade a spade.

ca October 5, 2011 (11:24 am)

Well said youngsters and agreed!

Alki Resident October 5, 2011 (11:27 am)

Never in my life have I seen news crews write a letter stating they will leave someone alone.Im really proud of Komo,King and Kiro for doing this and so soon after Amanda came home.It was really nice to see Amanda release her emotions yesterday.I hope nothing but the best for her future.

richard October 5, 2011 (11:44 am)

welcome home amanda-i have always believed your innocence and you have conducted yourself incredibly-i hope you grow stronger and live life to the full in the great country you live in-god bless america.
from richard-manchester-england.

Amanda supporter October 5, 2011 (12:16 pm)

To the ones who question Amanda’s innocence for changing her story, I would love to see how well you would do under an intense police interrogation. She isn’t the first person to do so.

Based on EVIDENCE..Amanda is completely innocent. Read up on the FACTS yourself before you pass judgement.

It is a tragedy what happened to Meredith, no one can deny that..but putting innocent people behind bars does no justice to Meredith or her family.

Welcome home, Amanda!

Beth October 5, 2011 (12:34 pm)

WELCOME HOME AMANDA.

Hold your head high and ignore those who aren’t on your side. They will eventually go away and find something or someone else to hate.

Thank you God+ for guiding justice.

Meredith, you will not be forgotten. Now you can rest in peace.

PBJ October 5, 2011 (12:54 pm)

@kayleigh – her parents hired the PR agency, not Amanda. And not because they were seeking media attention, but because media attention was already coming to them, regardless. They hired the agency (who took them on pro-bono, I believe) so that someone else could field the barrage of media inquiries and to help them get a better control on the “message.” I work in PR and plenty of companies/individuals seek the help of a PR firm to combat negative publicity and/or handle inbound media inquiries. No shame in that. That in no way implies guilt or that they are “seeking media attention.” In cases like this, the media attention is there, whether they like it or not. Why not hire someone who does this for a living to field these inquiries that you can trust to say the right thing that won’t further exacerbate the problem? She was already being smeared in the media before the first trial was even complete. Since Italy’s jurors aren’t sequestered the way they are in the U.S., this undoubtedly had an effect on their initial decision, since there was no evidence to back up any of the claims.

For the record, I don’t necessarily believe she is innocent or guilty. I don’t know. Unfortunately for poor Meredith’s friends and family, we may never know. But I felt the need to jump in and correct the assumption that hiring a PR firm = looking for publicity.

AHMom October 5, 2011 (1:09 pm)

Kayleigh – Her parents launched a campaign b/c of horrible smear the media did on Amanda. Also, good advice that they got to do one. Bringing press to their daughter’s plight probably played a huge role in getting people to help with her defense and ultimately her freedom. Also, it will eventually help the case for Meredith and hopefully get the sentence exteneded for the man who was responsible and find any other parties that may have been involved. I think any reasonable would have done what the Knox’s have done to bring justice for their child.

Darkseid October 5, 2011 (1:16 pm)

Really, Beth?

West Seattle continues to embarrass itself.

Kayleigh October 5, 2011 (1:33 pm)

PBJ, I have to say, you cracked me up. Her family played the media and the public like a fiddle. They could have easily refused interviews and declined the PR firm’s help in controlling the message. Jackie Onassis hid from the media for decades, and she was actually someone of historical importance. Harder in 2011, but it’s not impossible to mantain some privacy.
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I have no idea if she’s innocent or guilty, either, BTW.

Jiggers October 5, 2011 (2:11 pm)

I guess I must have been insensative. 98% here are pro Knox supporters. No room for negativity or posting what I think.

NotMe October 5, 2011 (2:31 pm)

I don’t think the anti-Amanda sentiment is going to go away. Have you not seen video or read of OJ hearing “MURDERER!” from people constantly? That went on all the way til he finally ended up in prison. I hate to tell you happy believers – but I am pretty sure you are never going to see Amanda hanging out at Easy Street or Shadowland. Ain’t going to happen. Her pricey think-tank are probably strategizing if she can go anywhere to stay out of the limelight and not hear people yelling some pretty mean things at her. The strategy of getting all this attention from the media is most certainly backfiring. They got her out of jail, but her future is looking pretty ugly.

bridge to somewhere October 5, 2011 (2:57 pm)

@jiggers: if she’s innocent–and the italian court system and dna experts say she is–then your negativity is actually affecting a human being. it isn’t like complaining about the viaduct. folks on the blog who call knox a murderer are causing serious harm to someone the court system has found innocent.

Beth October 5, 2011 (3:17 pm)

Darkseid – sad for you.

Leonardo da Vinci October 5, 2011 (3:24 pm)

“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.”

Steph in WS October 5, 2011 (3:34 pm)

To those who say the Massei report has all the answers and is fact may not be correct. The report is posted on a website dedicated to Meredith so I would think whatever is posted there would be against the two who were found innocent a couple days ago and the informating changed. The truth will come out when a full report by the judge in the latest trial comes out in 90 days and should include the reasoning behind why Knox and her boyfriend were found innocent. There were many experts saying that the way the evidence was collected was done with twice or more used gloves and other practices that would induce contamination and there was a video to prove it. They even broke a glass door. Why? The fact remained even in that Massei report that there was no DNA evidence of Knox in the bedroom. If she did do anything like watching or holding of Meredith, you would think there would be something of her in there. There is nothing. What was her motive? Why would she want her dead? That is the most important piece. No reason at all. And as for her changing her story that happens all the time here and that doesn’t make you guilty at all. The most important evidence didn’t show anything of Knox being part of the crime at all. Nothing.
Get over it and stop complaining. There are people out there that are falsely accused of a crime, unfairly convicted of the crime and do time for a crime they didn’t commit a lot. It happens a lot unfortunately. I just don’t understand why you are so against her.

Glad your home Amanda! I am also saying a prayer for Meredith.

clark5080 October 5, 2011 (3:37 pm)

Just love all the comments by people who don’t have the cahonies to post their name or are constantly changing their log on name
Jim

Leave it to Beaver October 5, 2011 (3:50 pm)

AHMom – well said.
——-
I find it highly ironic that those who oppose her innocence state that those of us who don’t, just have our “opinion”.
But, those of us who believe in Amanda’s innocence are grounding our statements on the facts that were presented, then RE-reviewed by independent (not arrogant) experts due to such sloppy police work and an overzealous prosecutorial process. And, least we forget that the prosecutor in this case has been sanctioned and fined (more than once) by his own judicial system and government for overzealous prosecution. Doesn’t that, in and of itself, tell us something?

I will agree that Amanda has culpability for acting irresponsibly by choosing to go along with the “party scene”. But, do you people honestly believe that she was the mastermind that lead two grown men (who spoke a language she didn’t) into a drug induced, sex crazed plot to force Meredith into an orgy, and when she refused to participate, they held her down, raped, tortured and slit her throat?! Get real people. Seems like so many of you watch waaaaaaaaaaay too much TV.
The family is not churning the sensationalism, it’s the media. That family doesn’t have the power to manipulate the media. And, boy does the media win every time we jump on the ol’ bandwagon when they sensationalize a story, tear down another human being, rip into their personal lives, and speculate on what *is* or *isn’t* and write it as fact. THAT’S what sells and we are buying it in droves. The media makes billions off of our insatiable appetite for the next big, violent, gory, or tawdry story to come along.

Beth is right. The (haters) or what ever you choose to call the people who base their statements on sensationalism vs. factually presented information, will move on to the next big story.

PBJ October 5, 2011 (3:51 pm)

Kayleigh, I respectfully disagree. By taking the PR firm up on their offer to help them control the message, they succeeded in turning the tide of public opinion, which in turn very well may have influenced the jury in the appeal (again, non-sequestered jury means they can be swayed by media/public influence). Even jiggers points out that 98% of people here are pro-Knox. Sentiment certainly wasn’t so positive 3.5 years ago. And simply refusing interviews would not have made the bad publicity go away. They did what was necessary, but I still maintain that they were not SEEKING media attention. Sometimes you do have to “take control” when there’s a bad situation, and if there’s going to be news anyway, you’re better off having your side of the story represented. And to your original point, which spurred this mini-debate in the first place – it still was not Amanda herself who was seeking the media. She herself gave a 1 minute statement (probably at the urging of her publicist) and now I am guessing she will do her best to lay low. Had she not given a statement, the media likely would have hounded her to get the story they need. By meeting them halfway, the media got what they needed to cover the story and in turn showed respect by vowing to give her some privacy (well, at least Seattle media did). Class act on Seattle media’s part, by the way.

Christina October 5, 2011 (4:10 pm)

Ciao Amanda! Congratulazioni!!!!!!!!!

LA DOLCE VITA NOW BEGINS!!!!!

Jiggers October 5, 2011 (5:06 pm)

R.I.P. Steve…

Kayleigh October 5, 2011 (5:14 pm)

PBJ, I appreciate your thoughts and agree to a point. It seems to me that the stations agreeing not to cover her is yet another example of them being played and used—KOMO is useful when manipulating public opinion, but that’s over now, so leave her alone? Weird. Truly. I’ve never seen anything like it.
.
I hope someone objective and with a PhD and greater smarts than I have is analyzing this whole episode and writing it up in some media or PR journal. Because I think it says a lot about who we are as a culture, the power of the media to influence justice and public opinion…and probably other things I haven’t even thought of.

mimi bell October 5, 2011 (5:15 pm)

Amanda loves you all, too, West Seattle!
Just like she loved her friend, her girlfriend, Meredith, who, in the end, she “knew for about a month”, and really, what she wants is just to get on with her life and go shopping with Edda.

Suppose she’s offered her condolences to the Kerchers yet?

WS Suzanne October 5, 2011 (7:55 pm)

re: from richard-manchester-england

So wonderful that you are including your support and voice here on the West Seattle Blog — the center of our WS universe. Welcome!
Suzanne

AHMOM October 5, 2011 (9:53 pm)

from around the world perspective:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15159828

mercy October 6, 2011 (12:52 am)

god will have the last say so—–every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess….

boy October 6, 2011 (1:19 am)

Hey coach, Im gald every thing worked out for the best. God bless your family. Rob.

Dunno October 6, 2011 (7:34 am)

Amen to you mercy. BTW, Some of these comments are just plain garbage. Hey Jim, if you’re the Clark I think you are, I look forward to talking to you personally about this. Support Amanda or not, there is no need for personal attacks about something that you know nothing about. I don’t have a problem with your personal opinion, but when they get mean spirited, you need to take a look in the mirror.

clark5080 October 6, 2011 (10:38 am)

Dunno My point is on the web it is real easy to hide behind a fake name and spout all kinds of false and wrong information.
For the record I think the verdict is correct and am very glad that she is home and will sleep just at night knowing she is a close neighbor
Jim
P.S. I might be who you think I am but there are a lot of us around

Karen October 6, 2011 (12:20 pm)

Welcome Home, Amanda!

I’ve thought about you and your family so many times over the past few years and I’m so happy you are home. Don’t listen to negativity and those who have only bad things to say. You have to know that people like that aren’t very happy with themselves or their life.

Sending good thoughts your way for a lifetime of happiness and joy with friends and family.

Hugs…

Justice October 6, 2011 (12:47 pm)

Its sad that being Anti-Knox will get your comments removed. I thought WSB was for the poeple!

WSB October 6, 2011 (1:09 pm)

Justice – we have published plenty of anti-Knox comments, just go through this thread and our other two stories this week. Comments that break our rules do NOT get approved for publication, regardless of the sentiment. – TR

akakak October 6, 2011 (2:18 pm)

Welcome home Amanda and well done to the whole family. You can room with my daughters anytime – I know they would have a caring and brave roommate.

Jim TL October 6, 2011 (3:24 pm)

My god. Can’t we all just try to get along? This world, especially now, is really sucking wind. There are so many more important things we should focus on, instead of stabbing at each other in an attempt to “be right”.
The outcome here is what it is. Let’s pray for victim resolve and hope that we, as human beings, can learn from this.

Alkira October 6, 2011 (5:53 pm)

You know, I don’t know what happened that night and I don’t know Amanda personally. But, here’s what I do know.

A young woman spent 4 years in a foreign prison. Do you remember yourself at that age? How would you have done in that situation? How many years do you think it took off of her parent’s lives? How much did it grieve her siblings? There is a heck of a lot of suffering that Amanda and her family have been through. She’s paid a price here.

The Italian court system (that is heavily anti-american) decided on Oct 3 that she was free. I respect the court’s decision as I am sure it was a very hard and embarrassing to admit they really messed up – especially in light of all the anti-American sentiment in Italy (that we have rightfully earned). It was the jury’s decision (not ours) and they made it.

It’s done. If you believe she is guilty or is withholding information – would you agree that she has paid a pretty hefty price and learned a lifechanging lesson or two? Even though she is free, she must face the rest of her life attached to this case – her name and face have been emblazoned in every skull on the planet.

So, no matter what you speculate, can’t you wish her well? Can’t you wish some sort of goodness to come out of this situation? A family reunited… a chance to start again…

I sure do. I wish her warmth, healing and a life filled with goodness. And, if I see her on the street, I will smile good-naturedly with sincere love in my heart.

CA October 7, 2011 (8:38 am)

I dont want to ruffle any feathers WSB, but what are the publication rules?

WS Suzanne October 7, 2011 (9:24 am)

CA – Re publication/comments rules, see https://westseattleblog.com/wsb-faq found on the About tab.

Dunno October 7, 2011 (10:31 am)

Alkira,

What a great post. I just hope the family has the time to read some of these. It warms my heart to know there are some very thoughtful humans in West Seattle. BTW, wrong Jim Clark, there are reason’s why many don’t post names here Jim. Mine, is because I don’t want my opinions to reflect upon other family memebers and thier business’s here in West Seattle. If I was here alone, I’d be happy to! Best!!

Beth October 7, 2011 (12:09 pm)

@Alkira
Beautifully stated. I, too, join in that sentiment.
Amanda welcome home; hoping for the best for you, your family and friends.
My family and I will now move on to other topics.
# # #

The Whistler October 7, 2011 (7:30 pm)

@Akira: I’m not sure about the claims of ‘anti-Americanism’. Have you been to Italy recently? I have. France as well. And I didn’t encounter any rudeness directed at me because of my nationality. I think a how you’re treated depends a lot on how you behave. If you go to Europe and expect it to be like a Disney theme park, and bitch about every little inconvenience, then yes, you will be viewed as an ‘ugly American’, and treated accordingly.

I honestly don’t think the original verdict to convict Miss Knox was motivated by anti-Americanism. Did that jury hate Americans so much they would send an innocent young Italian up the river for an even longer term just to ‘stick it to Uncle Sam’? I don’t think so.

As far as which verdict was valid, I’m not even going to go there. But since there’s no ‘double jeapordy’ in Italy, and we have an extradition treaty with them, I don’t think anyone’s out of the woods quite yet.

clark5080 October 7, 2011 (8:26 pm)

Interesting statements from one of the Jurrors.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Knox-juror-says-prosecution-s-case-just-conjecture-2207232.php

The Whistler October 7, 2011 (9:51 pm)

On a positive note, I’m delighted to see that WSB, and the other local media seem to have largely dropped the AK case. I had feared that WSB was going to become ‘All Amanda/all the time’. Shouldn’t have given it a second thought. Letting this thing drop is good for everyone. Way to keep it classy, WSB; you rock! :)

WSB October 7, 2011 (11:07 pm)

Thanks, Whistler. As has been our philosophy most of the way, if there’s a major development, we’ll report it. In this case, major development #1, the appeal verdict; major development #2, she returned to Seattle. From here – well, if she opens a West Seattle business, reports a coyote sighting or lost dog, sends in a pretty sunset photo … otherwise, we’re back to all the other stuff that’s happening. Speaking of coyotes, got a couple of those in queue, I’d better get back to work …

jimbo October 8, 2011 (5:47 am)

I don’t believe that she is a cold hearted killer for one minute but she doe’s know more than she’s letting on, probably there or there about when it happened but she didn’t strike the fatal blow, maybe just in the house at the time, hey who know’s, all in all glad to see her home, as for cashing in well it’s a no brainer, go for it take all you can, one thing for sure she wont be going on holiday for a while

jimbo October 8, 2011 (6:46 am)

just to add to my last post, good media interest here in Scotland, GB, and the majority of peolple wanted her out and back home

Ken October 11, 2011 (3:42 am)

Here is something to think about: If the black Rudy Guede was a lone burglar who managed to overpower and kill Meredith why did he wait until his appeal to accuse Knox and her boyfiend of committing the crime?

At his trial (where he claimed to have broken off a consensual petting session to rush to the toilet and returned to find Meredith dead, tried to help her then panicked and fled) it was in his interest to say that he had seen Knox and Sollecito coming out out of the room.

But he didn’t, even though the investigation was clearly targeting Knox and Sollecito. He could have so easily finessed his story to implicate Knox and Sollecito while helping his own case, at no cost to himself, if he was a lone burglar/murderer. A lone burglar/murderer facing a murder conviction surely would have done just that.

But at his trial, with everything to play for, Guede went out of his way to clear Knox by saying she was not in the building at the time, why say that ?

The answer is perfectly clear: he was in a dilemma, the same one that faces every prisoner with accomplices; they could retaliate to his testifying against them by testifiying against him.

If Guede was a lone burglar/murderer trying to get off he would have directly accused Knox and Sollecito of being the killers at his trial. He didn’t do so because they participated in the murder with him. There is no other explaination