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Foxy Knoxy's Family Hurting Her Case

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 16, 2009 6:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – If Amanda Knox gets off for the murder of Meredith Kercher, it'll be despite her family—who have caused an uproar in Italy for appearing on the cover of a women's magazine. As Newsweek reports, one photo features Knox's two sisters, Deanna, 20, and Ashley, 14, posing in short shorts in front of the house Kercher died in. Observers blame Knox's lawyers for failing to control her image and letting her family run amok.

The jurors in Perugia are not sequestered and follow press coverage of the case, and  Knox's family has caused as much outrage inside the courtroom as outside. Teenage Ashley had to be thrown out of court for violating a ban on minors at sex-related proceedings, while Deanna showed up in hot pants as part of a red, white, and blue outfit for July 4. "The jury pays attention to much more than the testimony," said one Roman lawyer, who cited the defense attorneys' indifference to "who attends court with her." 

Edda Mellas, mother of US murder suspect Amanda Knox, right, and her daughter Deanna Knox in Perugia, Italy, Friday, July 10, 2009.
Edda Mellas, mother of US murder suspect Amanda Knox, right, and her daughter Deanna Knox in Perugia, Italy, Friday, July 10, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
US murder suspect Amanda Knox is escorted by a penitentiary police officer as she arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, June 6, 2009.
US murder suspect Amanda Knox is escorted by a penitentiary police officer as she arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
Deanna Knox, sister of Amanda Knox, arrives prior to the start of a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
Deanna Knox, sister of Amanda Knox, arrives prior to the start of a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, July 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
Amanda Knox reacts during a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, June 27, 2009.
Amanda Knox reacts during a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Saturday, June 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
Amanda Knox is escorted by a penitentiary police officer as she arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Friday, June 26, 2009.
Amanda Knox is escorted by a penitentiary police officer as she arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
Murder suspect Raffaele Sollecito arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy,Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Murder suspect Raffaele Sollecito arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy,Saturday, June 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
US murder suspect Amanda Knox arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Friday, June 26, 2009.
US murder suspect Amanda Knox arrives for a hearing in the Meredith Kercher murder trial, in Perugia, Italy, Friday, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Timinator2K
Jul 16, 2009 1:32 AM CDT
She's burnt Italian-style toast.

More Newser Stories

Amanda Knox Still 'Loves' Italy

Amanda Knox's Italian Lover Breaks Silence

Kercher CSIs Joked About Taking Crack to Stay Awake

So You Think Knox Had a Guilty Face?

Amanda Knox Judge: She Could Have Killed Meredith


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