It will be fascinating to see how this discussion out in a mainly American forum. In very broad terms, the attitude that the Italians seem to have to Knox is similar to the attitude that the Americans had to Woodward, and very much vice versa.
"In the days following the verdict it emerged that the jury had been split about the murder charge, but those who had favoured an acquittal were persuaded to accept a conviction."
I just don't understand it. How can a person serving on a jury, with another person's life in their hands, be "persuaded to accept a conviction" when they don't actually believe the defendant is guilty?
Have you ever sat on a jury? Unless all 12 people start in unanimous agreement, then some people are probably going to have to be persuaded to change their mind. This is intentionally part of the process; it's how the system is supposed to work.
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but the way it's worded makes me think that they never changed their mind about the innocence of the defendant, but were simply persuaded to vote against what they believed to be true.
I'm perfectly fine with someone starting out thinking the defendant is innocent and then later changing their minds to thinking the defendant is guilty. I'm very much against anyone thinking the defendant is innocent but voting to convict due to peer pressure or whatever.
