Amanda Knox Appeal: Experts Contend No DNA Found on Murder Weapon
Almost a month since forensics experts in Italy reached the conclusion that the key DNA evidence used to convict Amanda Knox of killing her roommate could have been contaminated, another major boost for Knox came in Monday as the independent analysts testified that they had found none of her DNA or blood on the murder weapon.
The evidence used to jail Knox has been under scrutiny since prosecutors claimed that the knife found in the apartment of Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda's boyfriend at the time, contained DNA from both Knox and roommate Meredith Kercher.
ABC News reported that not only did these independent analysts challenge the DNA evidence found in the knife blade, but they also made strong statements against the original investigating team, claiming several DNA collecting protocols were violated. After explaining the proper DNA collecting techniques, a video of the original detectives gathering the DNA doing the exact opposite was shown.
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According to CBS correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, the new forensic report contends that the Italian police erred a total of 54 times in following the proper procedure while investigating the crime scene, making mistakes such as using contaminated gloves to collect samples, or placing the DNA evidence in paper bags as opposed to plastic bags.
Last month, the experts made the following statement, "One could not exclude the chances of the DNA found in the knife blade coming from environmental contamination and/or contamination caused during the stages of gathering evidence and/or manipulation," and now it seems that this could be the case.
Another key piece of evidence that prosecutors used against the Knox-Sollecito defense team was the DNA found on Kercher's bra clasp which the independent experts also challenged by stating that no DNA had been found under their investigation.
The trial that resumed on Monday, will be centered on discussing the 144-page report filed in by the independent experts.
Knox is a college student from Seattle, Wash., who was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, when her roommate was murdered in 2007. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Knox along with her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and a third party, Rudy Hermann Guede, were all convicted for murder and sentenced to 26, 25, and 30 years, respectively, although Guede's was later reduced to 16. Only Rudy Guede's DNA was found in the crime scene.
