What's Wrong with the Italian Justice System?

American student Amanda Knox has been found guilty of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, after a 10-month trial in Perugia, Italy.

Knox was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment while her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollcito was given 25 years in the stabbing death of the British exchange student Kercher, AP Reported.

Both Knox and Sollcito were also ordered to pay $7.4 million to the family of the victim and additional $60,000 for Knox to Patrick Diya Lumumba, whom she had implicated in Kercher's murder.

Six jurors along with two judges, deliberated together to reach the verdict, allegedly based from all circumstantial evidences found against the two defendants.

The defense strongly contests the guilty verdict of no motive and no forensic evidences linking both Knox and Sollcito to the crime. And, that murder weapon, which is purely circumstantial doesn't even fit any of the wounds sustained by the victim.

However, prosecutor Manuela Comodi said that violent crimes can lack a motive. "We live at a time where violence is purposeless," as AP further reported.

Knox's counsel Luciano Ghirga teared up in court Wednesday during his four-hour closing argument.

"Amanda is asking to have her life back," Ghirga pleaded before the jury. "Give Amanda her life back by clearing her of all charges."

This conviction of Knox raised so many arguments among U.S attorneys, as to what had been the basis of the verdict. American lawyers were stunned with the verdict.

But, it turned out that in Italian justice system, circumstantial evidences could be enough to convict an accused.

Unfortunately for Amanda Knox, there are so many differences between the U.S. and Italian justice system. Among the major ones are: jury no sequestered; jury may use evidence not presented at trial (e.g. "facts" on the news) and standard of proof is not "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Although, Knox and Sollcito can of course appeal, they would have to wait for another two or more years, before the appeal proceeding can kick in.

Well, all I can say is that I'm so glad I'm in America.

Here in the United States, you can't even summon someone with just having circumstantial evidence against the person; forensic evidences, along with the motive, are a must for the prosecution to have a case.