AMANDA KNOX: QUESTIONS TO MURDER, NO ANSWERS?

Amanda Knox trial: the unanswered questions
Despite the convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito,
a string of questions about the murder of Meredith Kercher remain unanswered.
By Nick Squires in Perugia / 05 Dec 2009 /Telegraph.CO.UK

What was the motive for the killing?
Prosecutors said it was the result of a four-way sex game in which Knox, Sollecito and Guede forced Miss Kercher to submit to sex, pushing her on to her knees and threatening her, then killing her, with a knife. But Knox knew Guede only casually, and Sollecito did not know him at all. Sollecito had only known Knox for six days. Is it really credible to suggest that three people who were virtual strangers to each other got together to commit a brutal sexually-motivated murder?

Could there have been another motive?
(snip)

How reliable was the DNA evidence?
(snip)

Did police get the right murder weapon?
(snip)

Why did Rudy Guede tell a friend that Knox was not in the house on the night of the murder?
(snip)

AMANDA KNOX TRIAL LEAVES MONUMENTAL GAPS IN EVIDENCE... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/%20italy/6727242/Amanda-Knox-trial-the-unanswered-questions.html

PERUGIA, ITALY: AMANDA KNOX GUILTY, GETS 26 YEARS

Victim's family satisfied with Amanda Knox guilty verdict
December 5, 2009 / CNN

Perugia, Italy (CNN) -- Family members of Meredith Kercher said Saturday that they were satisfied with the verdict that found American Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, guilty in the brutal knifing of their loved one.

"Ultimately we are pleased with the decision," said Lyle Kercher, Meredith's brother. "But it was not a moment of celebration. We are here because our sister was brutally murdered."

Knox was given a 26-year sentence; Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years Friday for the murder of Kercher. Both will appeal, attorneys said.

Arline Kercher, Meredith's mother, said she believed the two were guilty.
"You have to go with the evidence," she said.

Knox and Sollecito were charged with murder and sexual violence in Kercher's death in November 2007. Knox and Kercher, both studying abroad, were roommates. A third suspect was found guilty in a separate trial.


The two were convicted on all charges except theft and together must pay 5 million euros ($7.4 million) to the victim's family. In addition, Knox must pay 40,000 euros ($60,000) to a man whom she falsely accused of the killing.

The jury reached its verdict after deliberating nearly 11 hours on the 11 counts.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of life in prison. Italy does not have the death penalty.

AMANDA KNOX, RAFFAELE SOLLECITO GET YEARS IN ITALIAN PRISON...
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/05/italy.kercher.react/

TACOMA, WA: 4 POLICE OFFICERS EXECUTED AT FORZA COFFEE SHOP

4 officers killed in brazen shooting near Tacoma
Gunman may have been injured by one victim
By William Yardley / New York Times / November 30, 2009

LAKEWOOD, Wash. - Four uniformed police officers were shot to death yesterday morning as they sat in a coffee shop preparing to begin patrol, prompting a widespread search for the gunman, who remained at large.

“Two of them were just flat executed, sitting writing reports,’’ Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, said of the officers, who worked for the Lakewood Police Department. “One of them stood up and tried to go for the suspect and got shot. Then the fourth one fought his way out to the parking lot and fired off some rounds.’’

The suspect fled on foot, but Troyer said investigators had evidence that he may have been injured by the fourth officer, who fired at the suspect before dying from gunshot wounds.

“We hope that he hit him,’’ Troyer said. “If he’s hit, that means he’s injured somewhere with a gunshot wound. He’s going to have to get that taken care of some time, some place.’’

Late yesterday, the authorities said they were seeking a “person of interest’’ in the shootings whom they identified as Maurice Clemmons, 37. They described him as having an “extensive violent criminal history’’ in Arkansas and said he had recently been arrested in Pierce County and charged with assaulting a police officer and raping a child.

LAKEWOOD, WA.: FOUR POLICE SHOT HAVING MORNING COFFEE AT FORZA COFFEE COMPANY...
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/11/30/gunman_ ambushes_police_officers_killing_4/?page=2

Reward information
Authorities are offering a $120,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person involved in this morning's fatal shooting, described as a black man who is between 5-feet-7-inches and 5-feet-10-inches tall, and wearing a black coat and blue jeans in the Lakewood, Wash. area.

Anybody with information is asked to call 253-591-5959 or 866-977-2362.

OFFICER TIMOTHY BRENTON: HERO HONORED AT PUBLIC MEMORIAL

Thousands Honor Slain Seattle Police Officer
November 6, 2009
Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com

SEATTLE -- Slain Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton was remembered as a father, brother, husband, friend, teacher and hero at a public memorial service at KeyArena.

Thousands of officers from around the Northwest attended Friday's ceremony, which followed a procession of hundreds of cars with lights flashing through the city.

It took nearly two hours to complete the procession route from the University of Washington to Seattle Center. At one point, the procession traveled under an American flag hanging from an arch made from fire trucks' extended ladders.

Officials in attendance included Gov. Chris Gregoire, Sen. Patty Murray, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and former police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

Honor guards with bagpipes, drums and flags took part in the ceremony.

Meanwhile, police continue to look for the killer who shot Brenton on Halloween night as he sat in a parked patrol car reviewing a traffic stop with rookie Officer Britt Sweeney who was wounded. Police are looking for the car from which the shots were fired. It's believed to be a white or beige 1980 to 1983 Datsun 210.

Officer Timothy Brenton...Read
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21541153/detail.html