Knox Beaten By Italian Police: Stepdad

Stepfather accuses Italian law enforcement of mishandling case
By Amelia Atlas,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 22, 2009 5:49 AM CDT
Knox Beaten By Italian Police: Stepdad
US murder suspect Amanda Knox, center arrives in a courtroom to attend a hearing in her trial, in Perugia, Italy, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Stefano Medici)

Accused killer Amanda Knox was repeatedly beaten during an all-night interrogation by Italian police, her stepfather tells the Independent. The American student, charged with murdering her British roommate on a study-abroad program, told police she was in the apartment during the murder—but made the statement after she was hit on the head by a policewomen, said stepdad Chris Mellas. "It was coercion," he added.

"They did what they needed to do to get her to say what they wanted her to say." Knox was not allowed to speak to an attorney, in violation of Italian law, said Mellas. She was also forced to rely on biased interpreters who participated in her interrogation, he added. As for her bizarre behavior—Knox practiced yoga at the police station and shared details of her vibrator in court—her stepfather said it was simple: "That's Amanda!" (More Amanda Knox stories.)

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