Friday, April 12, 2013

Meredith Kercher, R.I.P.

1985-2007

Meredith Kercher, a 21 year old British student, was sexually assaulted and murdered in Perugia, Italy, on November 01, 2007. Coincidentally, I had just left the U.K. after a month long trip teaching new healers in The Way Of Atlan. Over the next many years I found myself being drawn more and more to the case, as first  Ivorian immigrant Rudy Guede, then, her roommate Amanda Knox and Amanda's boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty of sexual assault, murder, and theft, in 2009, with Knox also being found guilty of the crime of callunnia, for falsely accusing her boss, Patrice Lumumba of the crime. Guede, choosing a fast track trial, got 16 years imprisonment as a consequence, and Knox and Sollecito got 26 and 25 years respectively.

A subsequent appeal for Knox and Sollecito got them freed by a controversial decision of the Perugian Court of Appeals, which allowed Knox to return to America. An appeal of that decision was filed by the Perugian attorney general, and consequently, on March 26, 2013, the Criminal Division of the Italian Supreme Court, Corte De Cassazione, allowed all fourteen points of his appeal and, repudiating the entire decision of the Appeals Court, ordered that Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito would have to face a new Appeal trial in Florence. It was a stunning victory for the prosecution, and I was there in court that day.

As you know, I've written extensively about the case, here on this blog but also as administrator of a website called PERUGIA MURDER FILE dedicated to helping  find justice for Meredith Kercher. Much of the information published here is due to the investigative reporting of the many volunteers of Perugia Murder File and several sources who contacted us, but all opinions expressed here, are strictly my own. .

During the hearings, I met many reporters from CNN, NYT, AP and The Telegraph, all of whom asked what my interest in the case was. Why was I there, indeed? The following is a lengthy account of the five years of my journey to Rome.

2011 was an interesting year for me. I had to shift directions, just as the world was about to go through intense turmoil. It was a time for prophecy, all of which was unfolding before me:

RECAP 2011 (March 09, 2012) gives the bigger picture, but, this was why I got involved:

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: (June 26, 2011) Was my first blog here where I drew attention to the astrological signs in this case, and what they signified about the means and motives for the murder. They showed quite clearly, the circumstances of the night in question, but also, the long hold it would take on the public consciousness and the political interference in this trial. This was when I first felt that Knox would be acquitted in the appeal, though I decided not to publish that last snippet. There was a long road ahead, I knew, so best to wait till I could get more information.

Still, my reasons for getting involved: I knew I would be using the Internet as a way of getting in touch with people, and for more than 10 years, I did, through my websites and writing on chat forums like Huffington Post. (Where I first started discussing this case extensively) But eventually I got tired of going on about politics and social justice. People were powerless and didn't want to think about anything that required difficult solutions. I would focus on spiritual things only. Then, I came across the Meredith Kercher murder. There were many things in it, the power of coincidence, the psychology, the astrological component, but it was above all the underlying spirituality that drew me in.

Yes, four lives, wasted. Yes, the victim was forgotten even as the accused murderers, Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito, and Rudy Guede were convicted. Knox and Sollecito even attracted some sort of perverse publicity and book deals that made it all about them.

As Marcus Aurelius once said, "justice is the basis of all things". Yes, that was important, but you see, it was a symbol. You know I claim to see things. I knew the future of Italy would be important. I knew the Vatican would be going through change, and as stories of papal assassination plots and corruption come out, sure. Yes, it would come down to a battle between two Italys, and that drew me in. Maybe it was also the unquiet spirit of Meredith Kercher that I could hear, calling for justice, and I knew that justice would be hard come by, in this case.

But, spirituality calls for balance. If we cannot try to right a wrong to one person, then how can we right that which is out of balance on the planet? So, I devoted myself to the case.

There were times when I thought I needed to move away from it. Yes, the case consumed some people, and I wondered why. Perhaps they had some deep psychological need, but I could step away from it? Yes, there  was the personal element. I have daughters and Meredith reminded me of them. Arline Kercher comes from the same city in Pakistan I come from. The spiritual coincidences that occurred over time were compelling, but there had to be a deeper reason.

In the end, I stayed. Out of loyalty to people I cared about, because they needed my help. The spirit of Meredith and people that needed healing. It was important that I be there. I knew my presence would make a difference somehow, so in the end, I stayed.

This er, energetic activity drew the attention of Knox loyalists who made it their business to investigate me and my background. Since I never hid it, sure they came across my main website and blog, and the personal attacks followed. The funny thing is, I have investigated the case extensively, on both sides. I also read the trial transcripts (translated from the Italian) and would have felt as strongly, if not more, were I convinced Knox and Sollecito were innocent; defending the wrongfully accused is very important to me. In the end, it wasn't my spiritual beliefs that convinced me, or the psychological or astrological observations of someone I never met, but, hard facts presented at trial. As things stand now, Knox and Sollecito have been found guilty, though under Italian law that has not been finalized. There still is an appeals process and final confirmation at Cassazione that must be confirmed.

The Media lies:
There have been a lot of lies, factual errors, and distortions in reporting about the case in North American media, with ABC and CNN as the main culprits in this. White woman (Homus Americanus) in peril from foreigners always appeals to the xenophobic and weak minded elements of our society, and the networks and other media plays to it, for ratings reasons. An internet campaign set up by the Friends Of Amanda Knox fed the defense point of view to the public; even the Wikipedia account of the case was manipulated by teams of anonymous volunteers to reflect what turned out, in the end, to be a PR exercise to influence public opinion and invite political interference in the legal affairs of an independent country.

Political interference:
Donald Trump threatened to boycott Italy, and Knox's Senator Maria Cantwell (Dem-WA) issued the following statements:

Dec 04 2009
Cantwell Statement on Amanda Knox Guilty Verdict

WASHINGTON, DC –Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement on Amanda Knox’s guilty verdict decided today by an Italian court in Perugia, Italy. Knox, a 22-year-old Seattle native, was accused of murdering her British school roommate Meredith Kercher in November 2007. Knox stood trial with co-defendant and former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.

Senator Cantwell’s statement:

“I am saddened by the verdict and I have serious questions about the Italian justice system and whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial. The prosecution did not present enough evidence for an impartial jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Knox was guilty. Italian jurors were not sequestered and were allowed to view highly negative news coverage about Ms. Knox. Other flaws in the Italian justice system on display in this case included the harsh treatment of Ms. Knox following her arrest; negligent handling of evidence by investigators; and pending charges of misconduct against one of the prosecutors stemming from another murder trial.

I am in contact with the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and have been since the time of Ms. Knox’s arrest. I will be conveying my concerns to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I have also been in touch with the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC.

Then another on her acquittal:
Oct 03 2011
Cantwell Statement Regarding Amanda Knox Appeal Verdict

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement on Amanda Knox’s appeal verdict decided today by an Italian court in Perugia, Italy.

I am glad that the appeals court gave Amanda the fair hearing that she deserves. All countries must live up to their international commitments to provide a fair trial by an impartial tribunal to those accused of crimes.

“Amanda’s parents, family and friends have been through an incredible ordeal. We are all thankful that she will be free to return to Seattle as soon as possible.”

Judicial misconduct:
Another American official, Knox family friend King County Superior Court Judge Michael Heavey, sent letters using his judicial stationery, also attacking the Italian police and Public Prosecutor PM Mignini, for which he was officially reprimanded by the Washington State Commission of Judicial Conduct:

JUDGE MICHAEL HEAVEY

He promised not to use his office to speak out on Amanda Knox's behalf, then continued to do so. He boasted that their lobbying influenced the Italian judiciary. He, and many of Amanda Knox's family and supporters, also funneled tens of thousands of dollars to one of the main sources of attacks on the Perugian police investigators and prosecutor Mignini; an Italian blogger and reporter named Francesco Sforza, also known as Frank Sfarzo, whose scurrilous attacks caused his website to be shut down by the Italian authorities.

It was this Frank Sfarzo, on the run from Italy for assaulting policemen after a domestic dispute, who ended up in America being hosted by Amanda Knox's parents and Judge Heavey. Frank Sfarzo, and my interaction with him in this case, deserves a separate subsection in this blog, which I will get to, but here's a capsule of his arrests in the United States and being thrown out of Canada. Frank Sfarzo Arrests: which was written about far more extensively on our website.

Friends Of Amanda:
Unique to this case was the footprint of a PR agency led internet advocacy group which spammed hundreds of forums, social and news web sites, and Wikipedia, to create the feel of widespread public support for Amanda Knox. They appropriated the image of Meredith Kercher to say that her family had been misled by the Italians, which caused even more anguish to the Kerchers. They had lost their daughter, and now the friends of the accused were using her picture to pretend concern for 'the truth'. And, as their surrogates started to investigate me online, I investigated them :) Their activities had been under the radar for a long time, but it is in my nature to uncover secrets, and I came across the evidence of their judicial, political, psychological, and media activities which I wrote about on Perugia Murder Files. (dot Net; there is another site called dot Org, but I wrote for dot Net)

Raffaele Sollecito:
The other accused, Amanda's boy friend, is the son of a wealthy doctor and well connected political family (with credible sources saying also, mafia connected). He was a heavy drug experimenter, knife fetishist, and lover of violent Japanese manga, and some of the scenes found in comics at his flat mirrored the crime scene. It was his withdrawal of Amanda Knox's alibi that caused her to become a suspect and led to her arrest but their suspicious behaviour had already caused them to come under the radar. His sister Vanessa was forced to leave the carabinieri, the Italian state police, for her interference in the case, and she was caught on wiretap telling her father to use their political connections to have a sympathetic judge appointed. Raffaele's family was also accused of leaking a shocking police video of Meredith's body to a TV station in their home town . His lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, was also the head of the parliamentary judiciary committee, a conflict of interest that may have influenced the actions of many senior judges of the Appeals court, which led to an experienced criminal judge being removed and replaced with an inexperienced financial crimes judge, Hellmann, whose acquittal of Knox and Sollecito was so bizarre the Supreme Court completely nullified his rulings this March 26. His lawyer was also accused of attempting to bribe two prison stoolies to give false testimonies to the court. Lastly, his family is also accused of using their connections to have the third accused, Rudy Guede, beaten up twice in prison to get him to shut up, yet he did speak up and accuse them directly in court, just as I predicted the day previously in my What Might Have Been article cited above.

Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox received lucrative book contracts (hers came to $4 million) shortly after their release. I felt very strongly they should not profit from their stories until they were declared innocent under Italian law, so wrote to the producers of various TV shows. Who knows if our lobbying had an effect, but his book tour and sales flopped miserably. With the recent Cassazione ruling, I wonder how well Knox's book (coming out April 30) will do, but, far for me to suggest to anyone not to buy a book, if the first 22 pages of her book posted by her German publisher are any indication, maybe you might want to read it through your public library? ;)

Sollecito and Knox's fate are entwined karmically for all time. He cannot blame Knox for instigating the murder, nor can she accuse him. I sat in the same row as his father during the Supreme Court hearing. No matter his actions in subverting justice, I felt waves of compassion for him, as he sat there watching control of the case slip away from him. But in the end, he still has his son, while the Kerchers have lost their daughter.

Amanda Knox:
There is much speculation about the mind of Amanda Knox. A Times magazine blog article speculated she might have a form of autism, which piqued my interest, but, not having met her or having access to her records, I won't go there. Whatever inferences I drew about her psychology, drug use and sexuality, using the tools of astrology and Chinese medicine (ahem) were corroborated by many who knew her personally and reported by the media, but yes, I do have an interest in the case because of the possible implications of a drug induced psychosis. However, the following article is not a diagnosis of Amanda Knox, it reflects my own interest in the nature of increased mental illness in Western Society.

THE CRIMINAL MIND (September 02, 2011)

Introduction: 
"IThe question of criminality has been much in the news lately, as wild gangs of youth rampaged through British cities, and wild gangs of feral financial speculators rampaged through the world's economies.
As a scientist I wonder about the pathologies involved, and as a spiritual person I wonder about root causes.

So this is about where we are going as a society. Are we descending into criminality, and is the problem getting worse? I also wonder about the connection between criminality and mental illness."
Here is an astrological analysis I wrote: 
notable for a respectful dialogue between two sides on this issue. One writer asked, 
"To be truthful, I am one of those people who wants to be only rational, but is drawn to this type of analysis. So I cannot fully call it "quackery" - although logic says it must be so. I suppose Jung was both rational and drawn to things such as psycho-astrology. In your opinion, what were the "indicators" of the acquittals, and moreover, why were acquittals fated? thanks smk"
My answer was: 
"Hi, SMK.
I started to develop very strong feelings about the acquittal in June 2011. So when I checked that against the astrological chart I saw a Grand Cross pattern with Sun and Venus at stressful 90 degree angles to Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, it all pointed to sudden, unexpected events. Since they impacted AK's chart so strongly I felt she would be acquitted.

The Sept 27 New Moon prior to the decision was favorable to her chart, and the fact it was due on Oct. 3, the day OJ Simpson was acquitted, convinced me. (That she would be released -  my belief in guilt or innocence are  based on the evidence which has been adequately argued else where and the courts that found them guilty, a verdict that stands as of now. OJ Simpson, also shares the same birthday as AK, July 9, as does Jodi Arias, a coincidence I am sure)

Jupiter in the 12th points to powerful allies, and that she was fated to be released.

We know that human beings have strong connections to the unknown. IMO astrology just barely touches the surface in trying to understand it.

But Jung certainly used Astrology to form the basis of his Psychological theory"
And so, when asked about the Cassazzione hearing on Perugia Murder File, I said the prosecution would win, provided there was no judicial corruption. Which, IMO, was what happened in the Hellmann acquittal. I strongly suspected attempts would be made, and it was important for me to be in Rome. Not to influence anything, just to be there to witness. My influence extends on a far more esoteric plane :)
There was indeed much happening in Italy. I wrote here, in QUO VADIS? which was about the horoscope of Italy and its future:
"This is the sadness of being able to see the future. On the one hand you see signs of what lies ahead. On the other hand you know it might be too late. You try to warn friends and the people you love, but what happens then depends on the choices they make.

The answer, for the people of Italy and the world is that political and economic change will not be enough. All we ever get is the semblance of change, without anything real.

Unless there is real spiritual change, things will get much worse, sorry."
Another article, SATAN~ISM (December 17, 2011) begins with the trial of a refugee boat captain and his crew in Italy; they had killed many refugees by throwing them overboard in a voodoo ceremony at sea. I focused more and more on Italy, a riff on satanism, masonry, and my experience with these phenomena. Interesting that prosecutor Mignini is unfairly criticized for being 'obsessed' with it, when the truth is there were such elements in a related case, Il Mostro de Firenze (The Monster of Florence) speculated about by many prosecutors before he became involved. There certainly are elements of demonic possession around the MOF case, if not Knox, Sollecito and Guede, but never mind. I focus on the psychology.

I wrote about my experience with the Process Church, a group that influenced Charles Manson and David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, and the fascination with Satanism in contemporary society, and how it is used as a means of psychological mind control through ritualistic acts. And I have walked around Perugia, Italy, and there definitely is a strong whiff of that there in the Etruscan ruins, with its focus on death and the spirit. This article was also what led me to eventually meet "Bettina".

Then I wrote about THE COSTA CONCORDIA TRAGEDY (January 29, 2012)
"Just look at the coincidences. Over the last year I've been focused on Italy, for its political and financial difficulties, for a murder case that had a unique spiritual component, and because so much of it is a reflection of what's happening world wide.
So I see my task as being to warn people, and sometimes, sadly, the Universe has to send reminders. Now I don't expect to convince the rationally inclined, so, just look at the coincidences."
"So, Why Italy? True, I was drawn to it by a particular case. I knew there were going to be spectacular changes in Europe which showed the breakdown of the old order 
THE RAPE OF EUROPA (October 02, 2011) 
but ultimately, I was drawn to a point in the future I saw coming.
I hold at least four meditations a year. They all have a specific focus on trends that are coming into play, but, they also are earth healing exercises. And the sad thing is, as I said so many years ago, that if earth changes and disasters are needed to wake people up, then let it happen. They are messages for people, and if they do not listen, so be it. The floods in England, the earthquake in Haiti, the Fukushima disaster, were all preceded by my meditations, and written about here.
They're not even punishments. Why blame poor people in Haiti or Iraq for the disasters that befall them? No, the message is for all of us, on this planet. If something happens to the least of us, then it is up to every one on this planet to learn from it, and prevent future disasters. The earth is not in balance, and it is up to us to bring it back into balance.
And if your rational mind only tells you there's nothing we can do, then so be it. Just please don't say "I prayed to move a mountain, but it didn't move". That's an untrue argument. We are all healers and magicians, but someone has to show you how.

We had very little snow this year, only rain, which isn't good for the crops in the summer. There's a lot of imbalance there. But shortly after my December 16 meditation, we had a lovely snowfall. Then just before my next meditation in January, the one billion dollar mega cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off an island in Italy. The captain of the ship was careless, though it appears the cruise line, Carnival, is equally culpable. Still, here's the thing:
  • It could have been much worse. Even though 32 died, 4200 were saved.
  • It happened on my birthday.
I had written about "Two Italys" in Quo Vadis and said that people would have to make choices between what type of country they wanted for themselves. This was pooh poohed by sceptics, but after the disaster Italian newspapers started writing about Two Italys."
In HEALING THE UNQUIET SPIRIT (April 07, 2012
Which refers not only to Meredith Kercher, but the many affected by this case, and all of us. So, we are surrounded by spirits. But we also have the unquiet spirit within.

I heal the unquiet spirit.

Then, finally, by the time of my Christmas Meditation, the focus of which was 

WHY ROME? (December 19, 2012) I knew the pope would be gone soon, and there would be a decisive shift in the case. I should go to Rome in the new year, because my spiritual journey required it.
( To be continued in Part II, PERUGIA )

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Generally, I agree with your ideas...but, not having access to the astrodata you have at your fingertips, I am unable to see exactly how the planets lined up for the critical moments.
Our meeting was 'in the stars' for reasons that we might not even be fully aware of yet. I am grateful our paths crossed. BTW, my ancestors are Etruscan.
Thanks for the excellent piece.
your friend, Bettina

Man From Atlan said...

Hi, Bettina,
The astrological data was published in the "What Might Have Been" and "Psycho-Astrological" posts. They explain the set of background energies and jive remarkably with what we know about the case. (I would never call that "proof" of guilt, merely a statistical probability of certain scenarios)
As to our meeting, part of that was for truth and honesty about a case, and part of that was indeed, about Perugia. As my next post "Perugia" begins, "The hills of Perugia are alive with spirits."
Very much in keeping with the Etruscan culture, and the masonic undertones of the city.
Best,
Ergon

Unknown said...

I was also thinking that Amanda entered into a psychosis state given her Astological Neptune in the 8th with it's oppositions. She is not the sort who should use drugs or alcohol. Her elevated use of these substances certainly contributed to this perverse mindset that may have overwhelmed her at this time.

Man From Atlan said...

Indeed, and thanks for your comments, James.

Her Mars in 3rd (communication, mental ability square Uranus 6th (health) would exacerbate the situation, and the ruler of the 6th Venus opposition Neptune confirms what you say.

Yet it is her Jupiter, ruler of the 7th, trine Neptune in the 8th and Uranus in the 7th, that intrigues me. Powerful allies (in media and politics) who hide their activities (Jupiter in the 12th) may have helped her escape justice, and still are promising to help her, they should be held accountable.

Transiting Pluto in the 8th opposition her Cancer stellium shows it won't help her in the long run, and that it is in Capricorn, is breaking down the very elite structures that are helping her, is not a good sign (for her).

I am most concerned for transiting Saturn in her 6th house impacting her health. Ironically, her best chance would be to go back to prison, (8th, 12th houses) but she resists that. We shall see.

Unknown said...

People may have a hard time with astro talk but we can be composers with our life score and we will agree that when Pluto arrives opposing the Sun and Saturn comes to her own Saturn and begins a long journey through her 7th and extends it's journey up to Neptune and opposing Venus/mercury it will be a self trial and painful but complete.

Recently I started to look at the actual evidence in this case whereas years back, with their release, I just surveyed their charts.

I was quite taken back by Raff's chart. I always include Black Moon Lilth and Chiron in these matters. Chiron 6th opp Mars roars and also a strong Chiron as apex of a Yod confiquration combined with a strong nodal axis squaring BML/Venus and a flowing arrangement of powerful planets that is startling.

Quite the pair is all you can say and very magnetic when you see her North Node smack on his Sun and your eyes see the effect of her planets over his ascendant and his 7th house. Bound. Quite the picture.

I have avoided entering to deeply into the spiritual and Karma realm in all these charts and that goes for Meredith with her Pluto/Mars/node in Scorpio conjunction which carries such powerful implications.

For Amanda's reactions a simple case may be made for a rejection of love wanting to be expressed and a friendship attained but the rejections overwhelmed the senses and Mars sought out an aggressive substitute of confrontation that got out of control especially with Raff's participation and Rudy as a separate matter. Drugs added to the mix were extremely detrimental and did certainly contaminate Amanda's thinking and reacting and regressed her to the mental/emotional state of a spoiled and self centred adolescent of about 13 years old.

Just some thoughts..

Man From Atlan said...

Sorry for the late reply, James. agree with your lucid thoughts; would like to add that Raffales's yod indicates where his family karma intrudes.