Real victim overlooked by US media triumphalism over Knox acquittal

As Amanda Knox and Rafaele Sollecito were acquitted of murder in a Perugian courthouse, anyone approaching the case for the first time could be forgiven for assuming that all is now well in the world.

The overwhelming majority of British and, especially, American media have treated the verdict with varying degrees of what amounts, in essence, to triumphalism.

There is a very real sense that the US networks see themselves as on a crusade to bring justice to ‘their girl’. The announcement that Knox and Sollecito were free to leave prison was greeted like a successful sports result on American television and in street parties and vigils in Knox’s home city of Seattle.

In reality, the true tragedy has only been intensified. Meredith Kercher – despite Knox’s testimony appealing for her own life back – is the only victim of this case, and while a man, Rudy Guede, is still serving time for her murder, her family has only had their grief exacerbated.

What was particularly tasteless about the aftermath of the verdicts being quashed was the statement read by Knox’s sister on behalf of her family. It made absolutely no reference to Meredith or the Kerchers, failing even to allude to the fact that a heartbroken family now has more questions than answers as they seek justice for the British student.

It all contrasts markedly with the Louise Woodward case in 1997. Then, the tables were reversed, so to speak, as the British au pair was convicted of the second-degree murder of the American baby in her care in Massachusetts.

That verdict was later reduced to involuntary manslaughter and nineteen-year-old Woodward was sentenced – like Knox, who remains guilty of slander – to time served.

There was none of the US media justice-seekers in evidence during that trial, though – quite the opposite.

American media balked at the possibility that Woodward should be able to return to the United Kingdom after serving just 279 days in prison. They feared she would try to sell her story. The case came close to tempting Massachusetts lawmakers into restoring the death penalty in the traditionally ultra-liberal Bay State. Years later, Woodward was branded the most notorious criminal ever convicted in a court in the state by a Boston legal publication.

The media circus is at the opposite end of the dignity scale from the family of Meredith Kercher.