The Amanda Knox mystery: ‘She-Devil’ or ‘Innocent Abroad’?

US: From seductive “she-devil” to naive girl-next-door, the mystery over American Amanda Knox’s true character is key to a sensational appeal trial in Italy that now faces a verdict on Monday.

With her fresh-faced good looks, the blue-eyed Knox seemed an unlikely suspect for the brutal murder of her housemate Meredith Kercher in 2007, but accusers say the 24-year-old’s demure nature hides a “demonic” soul.

Prosecutors have depicted her as lascivious and slovenly — a drug-using party goer who regularly brought strange men back to her room for sex and exasperated housemates by leaving vibrators and erotic underwear on display.

They say Kercher was murdered after refusing to take part in a drug-fuelled sex game with Knox, her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and immigrant Rudy Guede. Kercher was found naked in a pool of blood with her throat slit. She was 21.

Knox’s family have presented a completely different picture of a loving, sporty girl who spoke proudly to her mother of her friendship with Kercher.

A New York Times editorial in 2009 called her: “An Innocent Abroad”.

AFP