Primary Sources
Court Decisions
A brief introduction to the Italian criminal justice system for readers more familiar with the Common Law system. In Common Law jurisdictions an accused is given a trial and that is the only occasion where a judgement is made as to the the facts in question and the guilt of the accused. If convicted the individual may appeal the conviction but the appeal is limited to mistake of law. Except in very specific situations a convicted individual cannot appeal on the basis of new evidentiary arguments, on questions of fact, nor on questions of guilt.
The Italian criminal justice system is different in this respect. In the Italian system there is the initial trial but regardless of the finding of that trial an appeal is automatically granted, if requested by either the defense or the prosecution. Unlike the Common Law system this appeal is based on examining the facts and evidence again. With the courts permission new evidence can be introduced and evidence already heard can be re-examined. Any evidence that was part of the original trial is included as evidence in the appeal but it is not heard again by the new court. The responsibility lies with the court to study the testimony and motivation report of the previous court. The Venn diagram to the left is a graphical representation of this.
In the Italian system a final verdict can only be rendered by the Supreme Court of Cassation. After a criminal trial has been through an initial trial and an appeal the entirety of the material is presented to Cassation to render a verdict. If there are mistakes of law (and under the Italian system illogical reasoning is considered a mistake of law) Cassation can void the appeal and order that the appeal be done again. That is what happened in the trial of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollectio. The flowchart to the right illustrates the path traveled by all three accused. The path can only end with either an acquittal or conviction finalized by Cassation. All other verdicts are only provisional verdicts awaiting the decision of the next court.
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| Matteini Hearing | Pre-Trial hearing to determine if Raffaele Sollecito would be allowed house arrest. | |
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| The Matteini Report | Matteini motivation report on why Diya Lumumba, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito should remain in precautionary custody before indictment and trial. | |
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| The Massei Report | The reasoning of the first court that heard the evidence against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. It covers the evidence against Knox and Sollecito and explains why the court found them guilty. | |
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| The Hellmann Sentencing Report | The reasoning of the second court that reviewed the evidence heard during Massei and some additional witnesses who testified for the first time. The court decided to free Knox and Sollecito. | |
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| The Supreme Court Sentencing Report | The reasoning of the Supreme Court that rejected and nullified the Hellmann reasoning for being illogical and a violation of Italian law. A new appeal was ordered. | |
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| The Nencini Sentencing Report | The reasoning of the appeals court that reviewed the evidence heard during Massei and Hellmann. The court reaffirmed the Massei court decision to convict Knox and Sollecito and increased Knox's sentence. | |
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| The Marasca Supreme Court Report | The reasoning of the Supreme Court that acquitted Knox and Sollecito and decided that no new appeal would be ordered. Knox's sentence for the crime of calunnia (slander) was reaffirmed as three years of incarceration. | |
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| The Micheli Sentencing Report | The fast-track trial of Rudy Guede and the committal hearing for Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. Guede was sentenced to 30 years in prison and Knox and Sollecito were committed for trial. | |
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| The Borsini-Belardi Sentencing Report | Rudy Guede's first appeal | |
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| The Giordano Sentencing Report | Supreme Court of Cassation's decision in Rudy Guede's trial. Rejected Guede's appeal. Reduced Guede's sentence as required because he elected to take a fast-track trial. Touched on evidence related to Knox and Sollecito and specifically finalized the finding that Guede did not act alone. | |
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Matteini Court Documents
Gemelli Court Documents
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ECHR Court Documents
Transcripts
Massei Transcripts
The Massei Trial started on January 16, 2009 and ended on December 5, 2009 with the conviction of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of Meredith Kercher and several related lesser offenses. The court met 39 times to hear witness testimony and 9 days to hear closing arguments. These are the currently available transcripts of that trial. The collection below represents a complete collection of the entire trial with the exception of June 5th and 6th (Kercher Family), and June 27th (Amanda Knox's character witnesses). In addition we are missing three of the nine days of closing arguments.
Summaries are in English and we are working towards translating all the transcripts into English. For transcripts not yet translated users of Chrome browser will allow you to machine translate the Italian transcripts into English or any language of your choice.
If you prefer to read the evidence in chronological order a day by day synopsis is available: Massei Trial
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| Antonio Aiello | Kokomani's lawyer. | |
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| Luca Altieri | Filomena's boyfriend / present when body discovered. | |
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Amanda Knox | English • Video • Audio | | |||
| Fabrizio Angelucci | Drycleaner used by Raffaele Sollecito. Testified to Sollecito requesting rush service on shirt that had already been hand washed. | |
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Raffaele Sollecito | Raffaele Sollecito elected to not testify | | |||
| Jade Bidwell | Meredith Kercher's friend. Testified about Halloween night and Amanda Knox's behaviour at police station. | |
English | |
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| Alessandro Biscarini | Found one of Meredith Kercher's discarded mobile phone in the Biscarini/Lana family garden. | |
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Sara Boccali | Raffaele Sollecito's landlady. | |
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| Fiammetta Biscarini | Found one of Meredith Kercher's discarded mobile phone in the Biscarini/Lana family garden. | |
English | |
Paolo Brocchi | A lawyer whose office was burglarized, implication is by Guede. | |
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| Stefano Bonassi | Resident of downstairs apartment | |
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Ana Marina Chiriboga | Raffaele Sollecito's cleaning lady. Originally told police she never used bleach. Changed story after meeting with Sollecito's lawyer. (see Volturno) | |
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| Robyn Butterworth | Meredith's friend. Testified to Knox's behavior at the police station, Knox's statement that Meredith was in the closet. | |
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Pasqualino Coletta | Car had mechanical problems near the cottage | |
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| Pietro Campolongo | Student and Merlin pub promoter, testified seeing Meredith on Halloween night and Rudy Guede two days later. | |
English | |
Dorothy Craft Najir | Amanda Knox's second cousin from Germany | |
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| Nara Capezzali | Neighbor from across the parking lot who heard a scream from the house 10:30 or 11:00pm. | |
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Paolo Farsi | Bank manager. Testified about 20-Euro transaction on Meredith's account posted after her death. | |
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| Alessia Ceccarelli | Witness who saw a bloodstained man night of murder. | |
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Hicham Khiri | "aka ""Shaky,"" first suggested by Knox as a possible suspect. Testified about his own activity that night and friendship with Meredith and Sophie. " | |
English | | |
| Giorgio Cocciaretto | Friend of guys from downstairs apartment. | |
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Ricardo Luciani | Resident of downstairs flat. | |
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| Antonio Curatolo | The man in the nearby piazza who saw Knox and Sollecito there on the evening of the murder, looking down toward the house. | |
English | |
Marco Marzan | Resident of downstairs flat. | |
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| Maria Ilaria Dramis | Neighbor who heard multiple sets of footsteps under her window, running away from the house. | |
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Edda Mellas | Amanda Knox's mother. Testified to to what was discussed in pre-dawn phone call from Knox, which Knox claimed to have forgotten making. | |
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| Leonardo Fazio | Friend of Raffaele Sollecito. Was supposed to testify to Sollecito's past but had a sudden bout of amnesia. | |
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Marco Miccolini | Friend of guys from downstairs apartment. | |
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| Alessandra Formica | Walking near cottage night of murder. Encountered a black man running. | |
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Carmela Occhipinti | Car had mechanical problems near the cottage. | |
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| Amy Frost | Meredith's friend. Testified to Meredith's relationship with Knox and Knox's behaviour at the police station. Knox told Frost she hadn't showered that morning. | |
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Matteo Palazzoli | A lawyer whose office was burglarized, implication is by Guede. | |
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| Antonio Galizia | Commander of the Carabinieri station of Giovinazzo. Testified about Sollecito's detention for drug possession. | |
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Maurizio Rosignoli | Kiosk vendor in Piazza Grimana. | |
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| Fabio Gioffredi | Testified having seen Meredith, Amanda, Raffaele and Rudy together a few days before the murder. | |
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Lucia Salsiccioli | Car had mechanical problems near the cottage. | |
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| Paola Grande | Filomena's friend. Present when body discovered. | |
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Francesco Sollecito | Raffaele Sollecito's father. | |
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| Rosa Natalia Guaman Fernandez de Calle | Raffaele Sollecito's cleaning lady. Testified about bleach. | |
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| Rudy Guede | Co-accused. Refused to testify | |
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Anna Aprile | |
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| Natalie Hayward | Meredith's friend. Testified to the behavior of Amanda Knox at police station. | |
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Carlo Caltagirone | Psychiatrist (stress & memory). | |
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| Hekuran Kokomani | Man who delivered awkward testimony about seeing Knox, Sollecito, and Guede outside the cottage that night. | |
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Mariano Cingolani | |
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| Elisabetta Lana | Took the discarded mobile phones to the police station. | |
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Antonio D'Ambrosio | Sollecito's computer consultant. | |
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| Giampaolo Lombardo | |
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Sarah Gino (additional testimony) | Biologist. Attempted to neutralize Stefanoni's report. | |
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| Patrick Diya Lumumba | Pub owner who employed Amanda Knox. Knox falsely accused Lumumba of raping and killing Meredith. | |
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Sarah Gino | Biologist. Attempted to neutralize Stefanoni's report. | |
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| Laura Mezzetti | Roommate of Knox and Meredith. Testified to their relationship. Saw scratch on Knox's neck on Nov 2, reported this to the police that week. | |
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Francesco Introna | Professor of forensic pathology and consultant for Raffaele Sollecito. Said Meredith was attacked from behind. | |
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| Antonella Monacchia | Neighbor who heard yelling between a man and a woman that ended with a scream. | |
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Francesco Pasquali | Ballistics expert: rock breaking window demonstration | |
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| Antonella Negri | Amanda Knox's teacher at University of Foreigners | |
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Walter Patumi | Knox consultant, specialist in forensic medicine. Testified largely to the injuries suffered by the victim. | |
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| Jovana Popovic | Friend of Raffaele Sollecito. Testified that she saw Amanda Knox at Sollecito's around 8:45pm | |
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Bruno Pellero | Defense telecomunications expert. | |
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| Helen Powell | Meredith's friend. Testified about Halloween night. | |
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Giancarlo Umani Ronchi | Defense medical expert. Testified about time and cause of death. | |
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| Sophie Purton | Meredith's friend. Testified to Meredith's relationship with Knox, Meredith's movements that evening. | |
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Adriano Tagliabracci | Sollecito consultant. Testified to DNA analysis. | |
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| Marco Quintavalle | Store manager who saw Amanda Knox waiting for his store to open the morning after the murder. | |
English | |
Maurizio Taglialatela | |
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| Samantha Rodenhurst | Meredith’s friend. Testified to Amanda Knox’s behavior. | |
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Carlo Torre | Consultant for Amanda Knox. Said Meredith was attacked from the front. | |
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| Filomena Romanelli | Roommate / occupant of burglarized room. Testified finding glass on top of her belongings and that none were taken. Present when body discovered. | |
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Francesco Vinci | Defense (Sollecito) footprint expert. Testified that a smaller set of prints accompanied the large set, but did not compare to Knox's feet. | |
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| Carlo Maria Scotto di Rinaldi | Owner of Bubble. Testified about Amanda Knox and Raffaele behavior when they purchased lingerie two days after the murder | |
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| Giacomo Silenzi | Meredith's new boyfriend. Testified that a group including Knox and Guede went to a pub together, and of an occasion in October when Knox and Guede were at the house. | |
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Saverio Binetti | Raffaele Sollecito's friend from home. Testified Sollecito is nice. | |
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| Francesco Tavernese | Principal of the Onaosi college where Raffaele Sollecito studied | |
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Corrado Candia | Raffaele Sollecito's friend from home. Testified Sollecito is nice. | |
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| Marco Zaroli | Filomena's friend / present when body discovered | |
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Angelo Cirillo | Raffaele Sollecito's friend from school. Testified Sollecito is nice. | |
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Mariano Martino | Raffaele Sollecito's friend from home. Testified Sollecito is nice. | |
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| Raffaele Argirò | Officer at Capanne prison. Currently facing sexual assault charges in an unrelated case. | |
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Gabriele Traverso | Raffaele Sollecito's friend from home. Testified Sollecito is nice. | |
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| Maurizio Arnone | |
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| Mauro Barbadori | Testified about parking lot CCTV footage. | |
English | |
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| Filippo Bartolozzi | Director of the Postal Police. Dispatched Battistelli and Marsi. | |
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| Michele Battistelli | Postal police officer who unexpectedly arrived to be first on scene | |
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| Mauro Bigini | Chief Inspector, Perugia Flying Squad | |
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| Gioia Brocci | |
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| Stefano Buratti | Assistant Chief of the State Police Homicide Squad | |
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| Daniele Ceppitelli | Officer of the Carabinieri that received Raffaele Sollecito's 112 calls. | |
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| Marco Chiacchiera | Deputy Chief, Flying Squad, Head of Organized Crime Section | |
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| Giuseppe Codispoti | Office of the Scientific Police that participated in the December 18 2007 search of the cottage | |
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| Aida Colantone | Interpreter and translator | |
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| Fabio D'Astolto | Australian-born police officer who acted as interpreter for AK | |
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| Anna Donnino | Interpreter and translator employed by the police. Present for Knox's interrogation, continued to translate English tapes and writings associated with the case. | |
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| Rita Ficarra | Chief Inspector at the Perugia Flying Squad. One of two officers questioning Amanda Knox when Knox placed herself at the scene and falsely accused an innocent man. | |
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| Armando Finzi | Chief Inspector in Perugia Flying Squad. Participated in search of Raffaele Sollecito's apartment. | |
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| Edgardo Giobbi | Investigating officer from Rome bought in to assist Perugia police. | |
English | |
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| Mirko Gregori | Postal Police officer who examined Raffaele Sollecito's computer | |
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| Stefano Gubbiotti | Police Superintendent | |
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| Claudio Ippolito | Video technician in Scientific Police | |
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| Letterio Latella | Officer of the Postal Police. Dealt with the phone records. | |
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| Fabio Marsi | Postal police office unexpectedly arrived to be first on scene | |
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| Daniele Moscatelli | Officer from Rome. Participated in various aspects but primarly known as officer who questioned Raffaele Sollecito on November 5th. | |
English | |
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| Monica Napoleoni | Deputy Commissioner of Police, Perugia Flying Squad | |
English | |
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| Roberto Politi | Officer from Rome. Participated in the December 18 evidence collection at the cottage. | |
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| Domenico Giacinto Profazio | |
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| Rico Rolli | |
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| Piero Sbardella | |
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| Stefano Sisani | |
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| Simone Tacconi | |
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| Claudio Trifici | Postal Police who examined computers seized from Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda Knox, Patrick Lumumba, and Meredith Kercher | |
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| Marco Trotta | Postal Police who examined computers seized from Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda Knox, Patrick Lumumba, and Meredith Kercher | |
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| Oreste Volturno | Detective who followed up on tip of Sollecito's scissor attack, investigated the bleach to establish date of purchase after maid changed stories from never using it to having purchased it. | |
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| Lorena Zugarini | |
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| Mauro Bacci | |
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| Pietro Boemia | Footprint expert for Scientific Police. | |
English | |
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| Francesco Camana | Blood splatter analyst. | |
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| Claudio Cantagalli | Technical video engineer. | |
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| Sonia Cieri | Electronics engineer in telecommunications working for Vodafone | |
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| Luca Fioravanti | Expert from Vodafone | |
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| Agatino Giunta | |
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| Cesare Iacuitto | |
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| Alberto Intini | Director of the Scientific Police. | |
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| Luca Lalli | Forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Meredith Kercher | |
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| Luca Lalli (additional testimony) | Forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Meredith Kercher | |
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| Dr. Vincenza Liviero | |
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| Mauro Marchionni | Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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| Marco Perla | Scientifc Police Anti-Crime Unit. | |
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| Giuseppe Privitera | Scientific Police. | |
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| Dr. Lorenzo Rinaldi | Footprint Expert for the Scientific Police. | |
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| Patrizia Stefanoni | Biologist / DNA. | |
English | |
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| Francesca Torricelli | Geneticist / DNA. | |
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Hellmann Transcripts
The Hellmann appeal began on November 2, 2010 and concluded on October 2, 2011 with the provisional acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. At that time, the court also lifted the preventative detention order that had kept Knox and Sollecito incarcerated from the day of their arrest. On March 26, 2013 the Supreme Court of Cassation quashed the Hellmann appeal ruling on grounds of illogicality and violations of Italian law. A new appeal was order and has since confirmed Knox and Sollecito's guilt.
For people familiar with the common law system there are some differences that should be taken into consideration. In common law systems a convict must appeal on questions of law to be granted a new trial. In Italy defendants are automatically granted an appeal on questions of fact. In the common law system if a convict is successful in getting a new trial the new trial will have all the witnesses and all the evidence presented before the new trier of fact. In the Italian system, the evidence from the trial of first instance is part of the record. The trier of fact is required to study the evidence from the trial of first instance. The defense and the prosecution can request that new evidence be admitted and they can also request that evidence from the trial of first instance be examined more closely. For a graphical depiction of this, please see the Venn diagram at the top of this page.
The court transcripts from the Hellmann appeal are in the table below but if you prefer a day by day account of the Hellmann appeal you can find that here Hellmann Appeal
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| First Day - Procedural | |
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First Day - Procedural (Reprise) | |
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Court ruling on scope of the appeal | |
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| Independent experts assigned to do review of DNA evidence. | |
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| Antonio "Toto" Curatolo recalled as a witness | |
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| Brief session experts ask for extension and Hellmann ruling on new witnesses | |
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| New Witnesses -- Prison Informants | ||||
| Mario Alessi | ||||
| Luciano Aviello | ||||
| New Witnesses -- Rebuttal to Prison Informants | ||||
| Rudy Guede | |
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| Spontaneous Declaration - Amanda Knox | | |||
| Spontaneous Declaration - Raffaele Sollecito | | |||
| Giacomoh Benedetti | |
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| Cosimo Zaccaro | |
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| Alexander Ilic | |
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| Marco Chiacchiera | |
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| Monica Napoleoni | |
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| No court session but Conti-Vecchiotti Report submitted to court | | |||
| Conti-Vecchiotti Presentation | | |||
| Conti-Vecchiotti Cross-Examination | | |||
| Negative Control Tests | |
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| Carla Vecchiotti Cross-Examination by Civil Party | |
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| Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni | |
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| Giuseppe Novelli | |
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| Adriano Tagliabracci | |
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| Prosecution Request For A DNA Review | |
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| Request To Recall Aviello After Claims He Was Bribed By Sollecito's Family | |
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| Prosecution Close | ||||
| Civil Party Close | ||||
| Defense Close | ||||
Nencini Transcripts
Nencini Court preliminaries, ordinances and opening requests/rebuttals
Florence Appeal - Testimony of Andrea Berti and Filippo Barni Testimony by the Carabinieri officers who tested "Trace I" on the Double DNA Knife.
Transcript of Proceedings November 25, 2013 - Prosecution Closing Arguments
Amanda Knox's Email to the Nencini Appeal (English) read out in court on December 17, 2013.
Expert's Reports
Factums, Appeals, and Motions Filed
Miscellaneous Documents
Amanda Knox - In Her Own Words
Raffaele Sollecito - In His Own Words
