It's really interesting following the news from two sides of the "pond".  I read CNN and other American news channels online and watch the national news here on TV.  I've been half watching the playing out of the Amanda Knox case.  In Italy everyone is convinced that she's guilty where in the States most seem to think she's innocent.  I watched an interview with Alan Dershowitz, (I think is was), and he said that had she been tried in the U.S., with the amount and type of evidence against her that they have here, she'd probably be on death row.  Where Americans think that she's a victim of a banana republic type legal system, she has actually been freed in the face of overwhelming evidence.  It is very difficult to be imprisoned in Italy, impossible to be executed.  While seen suffering in a cell she had weekly hairdressing appointments, (yes, they do that here), and university classes.  And on American news channels they keep using the term "double jeopardy", implying that she's been tried twice, that's actually not the case.  Her first trial, where she was found guilty, was overturned.  Then going to an upper court, THAT decision was overturned.  She was never really "retried" but judges just reviewed the original trial, facts and evidence.  The day that this new verdict came in, Friday I think, Sollicito, Knox's onetime boyfriend and co-defendant, was found trying to cross over the border into Switzerland.   Unfortunately for him he forgot to leave his very traceable cellphone at home.  Something, or should I say someone, that is never mentioned either here or there, is the man who really is sitting in prison for this crime.  At the time of the murder three people were arrested; Knox, Sollicito and an African man named Guede who was tried and immediately found guilty of assisting in her death.  I find it sad that so much attention has been paid to Knox, a young pretty, white American, and this poor guy is languishing in jail.  He was convicted not of the murder by the way, but of having assisted others in the murder.  Those "others" are still free.  No worries for him though as he'll be out in another year or so as long sentences tend to end up being 5-10 years max.  While a lot of America sees the Italian justice system as being harsh it's actually waaaaayyyyy to lenient.  Knox will never see a day of jail here and Sollicito will get another appeal that will go on for years.  You'd have to burn down a fully booked orphanage to be put away for any length of time in this country.  The streets are swarming with people who should be in jail for one thing or another.  So is the government for that matter....  xxoo me