True crime aficionados, listen up. We’re about to relive the events of one of the most captivating cases in recent history, and one of our favourite new actresses has been enlisted to tell the story.
In a series currently titled Amanda, Grace Van Patten (Tell Me Lies) will star as Amanda Knox, the American college student who was accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, back in 2007. While some true crime retellings in recent history have been accused of warping the details, we’re hoping that this series will stick close to the truth, with Knox herself on board as executive producer.
Below, brush up on the unbelievable details of this case before it hits the silver screen.
Who is Amanda Knox?
Knox was a linguistic student at Washington University, who travelled on exchange to Italy for a year at the University for Foreigners Perugia. When she was there, she shared a house with fellow exchange student, Meredith Kerser, who was travelling from the University of Leeds, as well as two local women. The basement level of the home was also rented out by a group of Italian men.
What was Amanda Knox accused of?
In 2007, Knox returned home from spending the night with her boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, to find the front door to the house open, as well as blood stains in the bathroom, and Kercher’s bedroom door closed. After allegedly attempting to make contact with Kercher, then calling another roommate to explain what had happened, Knox reportedly went back to her boyfriend's house.
The following day, she and Sollecito returned to the home and, after attempting to break into Kercher’s room, contacted the police. Soon after, Kercher was found brutally murdered in her bedroom.
What followed was an extensive investigation and trial period, including Knox being interviewed for a total of 54 hours, without a proper English translator, upon the discovery of Kercher’s body.
Did Amanda Knox go to jail?
In 2009, despite a lack of substantial evidence, Knox and Sollecito were convicted of murder and sexual violence, and sentenced to 26 and 25 years jail time respectively.
Fast forward to October 2011, and both convictions were overturned, after a review of the DNA evidence was found to be too low to find either Knox or Sollecito convicted.
But the nightmare wasn’t over yet. After flying home to her family in Seattle, Italian prosecutors appealed the case and, in 2013, the Corte Suprema di Cassazione, Italy's highest court, overturned both Knox and Sollecito’s acquittal. In 2014, they were, yet again, found guilty, and Knox’s sentencing was increased to 28.5 years.
Shortly after, Knox and Sollecito lodged a fifth and final appeal, also via the Corte Suprema di Cassazione, whose verdicts cannot be appealed. It was ruled that the pair couldn't have taken part in the murder, due to a lack of biological evidence.
Who else is cast in Amanda?
Joining Grace van Patten is Sharon Horgan, who will play Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, as well as John Hoogenakker as Knox's father, Curt. Also cast is Francesco Acquaroli, who will play Giuliano Mignini, “the Italian prosecutor in Amanda Knox’s case. A man with a need to prove himself, he’s convinced of Amanda’s involvement in the murder from the jump, and he finds his life and legacy defined by his relationship to her.” Then there's Guiseppe De Domenico as Knox's then-boyfriend, Sollecito, and Roberta Mattei as Monica Napoleoni, “the sharp, fashionable, and aggressive head of the homicide division in Perugia, and Mignini’s right hand. She is convinced of Amanda and Raffaele’s guilt and is unrelenting in her pursuit of them.”
When will Amanda air?
We don't yet have a release date for what promises to be a gripping series, btu filming is currently underway. We'll keep you updated as we know more.
