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So You Think Knox Had a Guilty Face?

People can't read expressions after all: Ian Leslie

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 8, 2011 3:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – We've all wondered about those photos of Amanda Knox smirking and glancing mischievously in court—and we were all dead wrong to do so, writes Ian Leslie in the Guardian. Study after study have shown that people believe they can read each other's facial expressions while revealing little of themselves. In other words, Leslie writes, "I am infinitely subtle, complex and never quite what I seem; you are predictable and straightforward, an open book."

Italian police and media judged Knox just as plainly. A friend of murder victim Meredith Kercher was widely quoted as saying Knox's "eyes didn't seem to show any sadness"; a video circulated of Knox sharing kisses with her boyfriend near the murder scene. That may seem strange, but "how many of us have returned to our home after a night away to discover that our flatmate has been brutally murdered?" Leslie concludes that eyes aren't windows to the soul after all: They are simply "organs for converting light into electro-magnetic impulses."

Amanda Knox is escorted to her appeal hearing at Perugia's Court of Appeal on September 29, 2011 in Perugia, Italy.
Amanda Knox is escorted to her appeal hearing at Perugia's Court of Appeal on September 29, 2011 in Perugia, Italy.   (Getty Images)
Amanda Knox arrives at the courthouse for the appeal trial in Perugia, Italy, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.
Amanda Knox arrives at the courthouse for the appeal trial in Perugia, Italy, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Outrageous
Oct 10, 2011 11:11 AM CDT
Heh, I was one of the people who found that particular photo a little creepy.  That doesn't mean I feel she's guilty though!
brucke
Oct 9, 2011 2:15 PM CDT
"how many of us have returned to our home after a night away to discover that our flatmate has been brutally murdered" Leslie thinks this explains the fact that Knox and Sollecito were kissing...it was all nerves. Except that she did a fine cartwheel. Was that nerves too? Question should be "how many people do cartwheels shortly after they discover their 'friend' has been brutally killed?"
Berzelius
Oct 9, 2011 1:24 PM CDT
people are too busy commenting on casey anthony's crazy eyes to comment here.

 
Italy • Perugia • Amanda Knox • facial expressions • Meredith Kercher trial

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