Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy 2011

Amanda Knox is an American college student who travels to Perugia, Italy, in September 2007 to study foreign languages at the Stranieri (the University for Foreigners). She shares an upstairs flat on the edge of the charming hilltop town with British student Meredith Kercher, and two Italian women, Filomena and Laura. During her early days in Italy, Amanda explores the local culture and quickly bonds with her roommates, making new friends and experiencing the vibrant student life.

Her story takes a significant turn in October when she meets Raffaele Sollecito, a young Italian man studying computer engineering, at a classical music concert. Their connection deepens, and soon they start spending nights together at Raffaele’s house, further entwining their lives in the small Italian town.

However, everything changes dramatically on November 2, 2007, when Meredith is found dead, locked inside her bedroom. Her death shocks the community and everyone around her. Amanda recalls their friendly relationship, such as when Meredith kindly helped her prepare for a job interview at a local pub called Le Chic — an incident that seemed typical of Meredith’s charming nature. That night, she remembers Meredith showing the pub owner, Mr. Lumumba, how to mix a perfect mojito, using diced limes and rum. In the wake of her death, the town sets up a memorial display, illuminated by hundreds of red candles, honoring Meredith’s life and highlighting the tragedy’s emotional impact on the community.

The police quickly begin questioning Amanda and Raffaele, trying to uncover the truth behind the murder. Under intense pressure, Amanda admits she and Raffaele had smoked cannabis earlier that evening, but maintains they spent the night watching a movie on Raffaele’s computer and sleeping. Meanwhile, the authorities consult with forensic experts and the local prosecutor, who analyze the evidence and discuss the possibility of multiple attackers given the injuries on Meredith’s body, which suggest she fought back. The coroner’s report reveals numerous bruises on her body, indicating she had resisted during the assault.

Raffaele is called back for further questioning, where a police officer confronts him with phone records suggesting he called emergency services after the police arrived at the cottage. Raffaele becomes defensive, claiming Amanda had pressured him to lie and that she was not with him at the time of the murder. When police question Amanda about a text message she sent to her boss, Mr. Lumumba, claiming she would meet him that night, she explains that in the United States, the phrase meant “I’ll see you around,” not necessarily a plan to meet. Nevertheless, the police pressure her to confirm her alibi, leading to her arrest, along with Raffaele and her boss — although her boss is later released after a witness confirms he was elsewhere that evening.

Amanda’s parents arrive from the US to support her and hire Italian lawyers to defend her. Amanda, feeling threatened during interrogations, explains that police threatened her into giving false statements, which her father recognizes as a sign of police misconduct. Despite this, forensic investigators from Rome identify a blood fingerprint in Meredith’s room that does not match either Amanda or Raffaele, leading to the arrest of Rudy Guede, a young man who was seen playing guitar downstairs at the cottage earlier and was linked to the crime scene. Rudy Guede is convicted of murder and sexual assault, but Amanda and Raffaele are also put on trial as suspects, accused of planning the murder.

During the trial in the summer of 2009, the prosecution presents a range of evidence, including luminol tests showing small footprints in the cottage hallway, some smaller than the footprint size of the accused, and DNA evidence such as Amanda’s blood on a bathroom faucet, mixed with Meredith’s blood. Additionally, a large kitchen knife found in Raffaele’s apartment bears DNA from both Amanda and Meredith—though the defense argues that the small sample size indicates contamination and is not definitive proof of usage. The prosecutor claims that Amanda and Meredith argued violently, leading to a flashback scene where Meredith is shown with a cut on her bra, allegedly caused by Raffaele’s DNA on the severed clasp.

Tests also reveal Raffaele’s DNA on a cigarette butt in the kitchen, and the timing of the evidence collection faces scrutiny. The courtroom hears testimony from forensic experts who admit that contamination could have affected some findings, but overall, the case points to multiple pieces of evidence linking Amanda and Raffaele to the scene. Despite their protests of innocence, the jury finds them guilty in December 2009, delivering a surprising verdict: Amanda is sentenced to 26 years in prison, and Raffaele receives a 25-year sentence.

As Amanda is taken from the courthouse in tears, she continues to insist she is innocent, with her father assuring her that they will appeal the verdict. The final shot of the film reveals that, as of February 2011, Amanda’s parents had been arrested and charged with criminal slander for claiming that police had abused Amanda during interrogation, highlighting ongoing legal and moral controversies surrounding the case.

Throughout the film, the story emphasizes the complexity of the evidence, the intense media coverage, and the question of innocence versus guilt, leaving viewers pondering the truth behind a high-profile murder case that captivated the world.