Though no formal charges have been brought in the murder of Meredith Kercher, the British student studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, who was killed on November 1, the European press has remained fixated on the case, dubbing suspect Amanda Knox, with a Mediterranean flourish, the "Dark Lady of Seattle." One police investigator tasked with uncovering the truth in the case seemed so distracted and fascinated by what he termed Knox's "virgin-like beauty," he mentioned it as though it held the weight of evidence. But whatever Knox's involvement that night, the indelible fact is she may remain in the Perugia prison until November 2008 without any clarification of the charges against her.

Sources at the prison have been all too eager to speak with the media regarding the more sensational aspects of the case, and a diary written by Knox in jail—and promptly seized by authorities—has recently been made public. In it she accuses her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, of raping and killing Kercher. The diary also contains lists of men with whom Knox had sex since her arrival in Italy, annotated to indicate whether she had used protection. She also boasts that her two-hour prison exercise period has given her a "bit of a tan," and confesses that she receives many letters from "fans" who "tell me I'm hot and that they want to have sex with me."

Back in Seattle, where Knox was a student, her friend Jeff Tripoli has said that coverage of Knox has been blown out of all proportion, and bears no resemblance to the Amanda he knew. "The media wants a movie: Pretty, reckless monster with no emotions kills roommate at kinky sex party. But that's not possible. Amanda is the girl next door, wholesome and sporty and fun to be with." He also detailed her love of "tea parties," and said that while he knew Knox, her partying was never out of control.