The Still Bizarre Case of Amanda Knox’s Wrongful Murder Conviction

Italian authorities thought they knew who killed Meredith Kercher in November 2007.

Back in the day, I was simply captivated by the case of Amanda Knox, a 20-year-old American student studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. Little did I know that this young woman I had been following would find herself in the heart of an unfathomable mystery. Alas, she was apprehended, her life forever entwined with the tragedy that struck her shared flat.

Knox, who found herself at the center of a global media storm more interested in sensational facts than accuracy, was eventually found guilty of murder. This conviction also applied to Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian engineering student who was dating her at the time, and Rudy Guede, an Ivorian resident in Italy who claimed Kercher invited him home on the night she passed away.

After spending nearly four years in prison, Amanda Knox was declared not guilty by an appellate court in 2011, along with her co-defendant Sollecito. However, they were both found guilty and re-tried in 2014. Due to Knox’s return to the U.S., she was convicted in absentia, but eventually, Italy’s highest court exonerated them both in 2015.

But plenty of people just assumed the Italian cops got it right the first time.

Speaking with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in 2013, Knox expressed that for all practical purposes, she was considered a murderer, regardless of her actual guilt or innocence. She stated that this notion was something she had to endure and accept as part of her existence.

Her experience had been “surreal,” she said, “but it could have happened to anyone.”

An eerie thought, which she reiterated in the 2016 Netflix documentary Amanda Knox.

She declared in the document, ‘If I’m to blame, I’m the one to truly be afraid of, as I’m not the obvious culprit.’ However, if she’s innocent, it implies that everyone is potentially at risk, which is a terrifying thought for all. Essentially, she’s either a dangerous predator disguised as an innocent lamb or simply a reflection of each person.

So Knox, now 38, is understandably still unpacking what happened all these years later.

The recently released Hulu miniseries titled “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox” features Grace Van Patten portraying the main character, who is under suspicion for murder. This limited series offers the most comprehensive account of her story to date, delving into the various societal and cultural factors that shaped perceptions of Knox as a crafty femme fatale and an unsightly American causing trouble overseas.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Knox stated, “It’s quite simple for people to attribute their desires onto women, as we often serve as vessels for others’ fantasies. However, it’s not only men who do this. Many women were also involved in my persecution. One might wonder where the inclination to criticize and undermine originates from?

The show, with Monica Lewinsky serving as an executive producer, is not primarily focused on someone’s most distressing event, Knox clarified to the New York Times before its August 20 release. Instead, it’s a platform for this individual to seek closure on their own terms and reclaim control over their life, which was previously taken away from them.

Here’s a refresher on the bizarre true story behind The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox:

What happened to Meredith Kercher?

On November 2nd, 2007, the body of Meredith Kercher, a 21-year-old English student, was discovered in the bedroom of the Perugia house she shared with Amanda Knox and two other Italian flatmates.

The police discovered the woman’s body around noon, and the open front door and broken window initially led them to believe a burglary had occurred. However, further investigation revealed that the scene had been purposefully staged. The bedroom door was locked, and the woman was partially undressed, her bra soaked in blood and torn apart, lying discarded nearby.

An autopsy determined she died of hemorrhagic shock from stab wounds to the neck.

According to Knox, she went back home in the morning following a night spent at Sollecito’s, where she noticed blood on the bathroom floor. Assuming one of her housemates might have gotten injured, she continued her day. Additionally, finding the toilet unflushed led her to believe that someone else was residing in the house.

What did Amanda Knox do after Meredith Kercher was killed?

On the day following the horrific murder, I found myself captured on CCTV, locked in a passionate kiss with Raffaele, all while we shopped for trendy underwear at a chic boutique named Bubble. Little did we know, this moment was about to be handed over to none other than Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini himself. The very next day, our phones were tapped by him, and here we were on November 4th, still finding reasons to laugh amidst the chaos as we waited in the police station’s waiting room.

According to a phone conversation transcribed by Vanity Fair, Knox said, “If they ask me to work through Christmas, I’ll need to seek assistance… I can’t keep dropping everything they ask of me.” Additionally, it was reported that she expressed her feelings at the station, saying, “They make me feel like a suspect.

Knox and Sollecito were arrested on Nov. 6.

What did Rudy Guede say about the night Meredith Kercher was killed?

Guede consistently maintains his innocence regarding Kercher’s demise. In an interview for the Italian series Madelette Storie in 2017, he stated that following their encounter at a club on November 1, 2007, Kercher had invited him to her residence.

He joked around without engaging in sexual activities, according to him. He stated that he felt unwell after consuming a kebab, and while he was in the bathroom for approximately 10 minutes, he heard Knox’s voice followed by a scream that was louder than the music from his headphones.

Instead, he mentioned that he positively identified both a man and Amanda Knox being present in the bathroom.

He affirmed that not only did he see a man in the bathroom but he was absolutely sure Amanda Knox was also there.

On the program, Guede stated that he returned to Kercher’s room and observed a slashed throat. In an attempt to stop the bleeding, he used towels, but out of fear, both of the scene and the country, he chose to leave immediately. He mentioned that his destination was Germany since it was where the next train was heading.

He told police Kercher was fully clothed when he ran off and that he left her bedroom door open.

Based on reports from authorities, Guede returned to his residence following Kercher’s death, cleaned up, changed his clothes, and proceeded to a nightclub before heading to a pub. On the night of November 2nd, he was said to have gone dancing again. In the early hours of the next morning, Guede left for Germany, where he was detained for the murder of Kercher on November 20th.

When was Amanda Knox found guilty of murder?

During Knox’s court proceedings, the defendant was often referred to as “Foxy Knoxy” in tabloids – a nickname originally used for her athleticism on the soccer field from her MySpace profile. One Italian newspaper labeled her “Luciferina with an angelic face,” while the crime scene was infamously called “The House of Horrors.” Certain media outlets echoed prosecutor Mignini’s hypothesis that Kercher’s murder was a tragic event stemming from an extreme sexual encounter.

In an interview with Newsweek years later, Knox stated, “Even if I were the most unconventional person in terms of sexual behavior, it wouldn’t have been relevant to the case because it had no bearing on the evidence. The accusation that I masterminded a rape game was so preposterous.

In 2008, Guede was found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher, acting with others, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, after an appeal, his sentence was reduced to 16 years. He served less time due to good behavior before being released in 2021.

On December 5, 2009, both Knox and Sollecito were found guilty of committing murder and sexual assault, resulting in them being sentenced to serve 26 years (Knox) and 25 years (Sollecito) in prison. Upon hearing the verdict, Knox could not hold back her tears.

Initially, we were prepared for this outcome, but we struggle to accept it given our firm belief in Amanda’s innocence. We find it peculiar that there was no incriminating evidence linking her to the room where Meredith was killed, especially considering the prosecution’s case seemed to heavily rely on questionable character attacks against Amanda. These media portrayals and accusations by the prosecution appear to have swayed the judges and jury, potentially overshadowing the insufficient evidence presented against her.

When was Amanda Knox released from prison?

In an appeal court trial held on October 3, 2011, it was determined that Knox and Sollecito were not responsible for the crime they were accused of, leading to their release from prison thereafter.

Upon returning to Seattle, Knox continued her academic journey at the University of Washington. However, the prosecution persisted, resulting in both Knox and Sollecito being convicted anew following a subsequent trial in January 2014.

Speaking to The Daily at her U.S. college, Knox acknowledged that she was once convicted of murder in Italy, despite having remained free after the ruling due to being delivered in absentia. She expressed frustration that this conviction, though untrue and irrelevant, still carries weight, impacting her social status. In essence, she feels like a part of society that is rightfully hers has been unfairly taken away.

When was Amanda Knox exonerated of the murder of Meredith Kercher?

On March 27, 2015, Italy’s top court, the Court of Cassation, overturned the conviction of both the individual and Sollecito, finding them innocent. This decision was made after they discovered significant errors in the original murder investigation.

At first, Knox expressed deep gratitude and relief following the court’s ruling. However, it’s clear that the experience left a lasting impact on her, as she acknowledged being scarred by it.

She shared with USA Today before the 2025 premiere of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox that it was a time in her life when she still felt confined and undervalued, as if my words would never be enough to make people believe me. I found myself stuck within the identity and tale, the narrative that had been constructed about me – the girl accused of murder. Despite being acquitted, this wasn’t something that simply vanished.

What has Meredith Kercher’s family said about Amanda Knox and the murder case?

Following their release from prison in 2011, the Kercher family, on departing Perugia for Britain, stated, “In essence, we acknowledge and uphold the court’s decision, but it leaves us questioning anew. We find ourselves back at the starting point, puzzled about what transpired.

But that was only the latest development in what was ultimately a Knox-centric saga.

In a TV documentary titled “Is Amanda Knox Guilty?“, Stephanie Kercher, the victim’s sister, stated: “Mez has been overlooked amidst all of this. Meredith’s feelings on that dreadful night, her ordeal, the fear and the terror she experienced, not knowing what was happening to her. She didn’t deserve such suffering. No one does.

Where is Amanda Knox now?

In 2018, the author and activist tied the knot with writer Christopher Robinson, and together, they are proud parents to their 4-year-old daughter, Eureka, as well as their 2-year-old son, Echo.

And their eldest child is old enough to be curious about her mom’s past.

In essence, Knox said on TODAY.com, ‘When my mother was young, she visited Italy, formed friendships, enjoyed herself, but unfortunately someone harmed her friend. The police suspected my mother to be the culprit and incarcerated her.’

Following this, she added, “Mommy spent a considerable amount of time in prison, feeling deeply sorrowful. However, one day, she managed to demonstrate her innocence and was released, afterward meeting Daddy and eventually giving birth to you. And so, the story continues with happiness ever since.

Prior to enjoying “The Twisted Case of Amanda Knox”, now available for streaming on Hulu as of August 20th, make sure you’re all caught up on some mind-blowing true crime events that have been broadcasted on television.

It’s uncertain which aspect of the six-part 2015 HBO series directed by Andrew Jarecki left people more astonished: Whether it was surprising that real estate heir and murder suspect Robert Durst willingly consented to be interviewed by the director for over 20 hours across several years, or if it was the show’s climactic scenes where an unedited microphone picked up Durst letting out a series of burps while muttering, “What on earth did I do? I must have killed them all, right?

In the six-part 2019 Lifetime docuseries, accusations against R. Kelly were undeniably shocking and disturbing, but nothing tugged at our heartstrings quite like watching Michelle Kramer, Dominique Gardner’s mother (as shown in this year’s sequel), valiantly rescue her daughter from a troubling relationship with the disgraced singer. It was indeed an emotionally charged moment.

Originating everything we know today, a 13-episode series produced by French director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade in 2004, following the trial of author Michael Peterson after being accused of murdering his wife Kathleen in 2001. This intriguing miniseries found its way to Netflix in 2018 with additional episodes, and it significantly paved the path for what has followed since. The turn of events in this case grows increasingly bizarre, but none more so than the proposal of an unexpected theory implicating an owl as the real suspect. Yes, you heard that correctly.

In late 2019, Netflix introduced a thrilling three-part series that delivers plenty of intrigue: detective work more advanced than the police force themselves, a ruthless Canadian killer defying every stereotype you’ve encountered while mailing body parts to high-ranking officials, and a link to the film “Basic Instinct” so bold it will leave your jaw dropped when revealed.

As you reach the climax of this 2018 Netflix series with six parts, where the tense standoff between the Rajneeshpuram community and Wasco County, Oregon escalates into what’s considered the most significant biological warfare incident in American history, you’ll be left in awe. And it’s hard to forget Ma Anand Sheela, who was once the spokesperson for the Rajneesh movement and the sharp-tongued secretary of founder Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. As you may recall, she did plot an assassination attempt on the federal prosecutor appointed by President Reagan to investigate them.

The most surprising aspect of the 2016 CBS docuseries commemorating the 20th anniversary of six-year-old pageant queen JonBenét’s murder was the expectation that the investigative team would uncover anything close to the truth. Later, the claim that Burke, her brother, was responsible for the crime led to a defamation lawsuit against CBS Corporation, demanding over $250 million in compensatory damages and an additional $500 million in punitive damages. This case was ultimately settled outside of court.

A captivating true crime series is one that commences with a bank robber who perishes during a live broadcast standoff with law enforcement, as his bomb detonates. Such a shocking and bizarre opening incident often sets high expectations, but may sometimes fall short. However, in the case of the four-part 2018 Netflix series, it exceeds those expectations, largely due to the involvement of the cunning serial killer mastermind Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong.

One intriguing aspect of the groundbreaking 2015 series, Netflix’s first to stream, was its exasperating portrayal of the shortcomings within the justice system. Regardless of opinions regarding Steven Avery‘s involvement in the murder of Teresa Halbach, it’s hard to forget the scene where his 16-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey, seemed to be pressured into confessing by interrogators without legal representation or a parent present.

2025-08-20 07:17