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| Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Conti |
Court appointed independent forensic experts, Stefano Conti and Carla
Vecchiotti, from Rome's Sapienza University, released a scathing report in late June
detailing gross negligence on the part of lead forensic scientist,
Patricia Stefanoni, regarding the key DNA evidence used to secure
the convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the first trial. The alleged murder weapon and a DNA
laced bra clasp have been fully discredited on appeal leaving absolutely no
credible evidence to confirm the convictions of Amanda and Raffaele. Conti and
Vecchiotti presented their findings to the court on July 25, putting Amanda and Raffaele one step closer to freedom.
Translation
of the report submitted by Vecchiotti and Conti is now in progress. The
conclusions reached by Conti and Vecchiotti constitute a damning
indictment of the investigation conducted by Italy’s Scientific Police,
and in particular of the methods employed by the prosecution’s main
forensic scientist, Patrizia Stefanoni. They lend official support to
the already-widespread perception that Amanda and Raffaele have been the
victims of a scandalous miscarriage of justice.
Read the translation in progress here: The Conti-Vecchiotti Report By komponisto
Here
is an English translation of the conclusions reached by the independent
court appointed experts Stefano Conti and Carla Vecchiotti.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the considerations explained above, we are able to respond as follows to the inquiries posed at the assignment hearing:
"Having examined the record and conducted such technical investigations as shall be necessary, the Expert Panel shall ascertain:
1.
whether it is possible, by means of a new technical analysis, to
identify the DNA present on items 165b (bra clasp) and 36 (knife), and
to determine the reliability of any such identification"
-
The tests that we conducted to determine the presence of blood on item
36 (knife) and item 165B (bra clasps) yielded a negative result.
-
The cytomorphological tests on the items did not reveal the presence of
cellular material. Some samples of item 36 (knife), in particular
sample "H", present granules with a circular/hexagonal characteristic
morphology with a cental radial structure. A more detailed microscopic
study, together with the consultation of data in the literature, allowed
us to ascertain that the structures in question are attributable to
granules of starch, thus matter of a vegetable nature.
-
The quantification of the extracts obtained from the samples obtained
from item 36 (knife) and item 165B (bra clasps), conducted via Real Time
PCR, did not reveal the presence of DNA.
-
In view of the absence of DNA in the extracts that we obtained, with
the agreement of the consultants for the parties, we did not proceed to
the subsequent amplification step.
2.
"if it is not possible to carry out a new technical analysis, shall
evaluate, on the basis of the record, the degree of reliability of the
genetic analysis performed by the Scientific Police on the
aforementioned items, including with respect to possible contamination."
Having
examined the record and the relevant documents, we are able to report
the following conclusions regarding the laboratory analyses performed on
Item 36 (knife) and Item 165B (bra clasps):
ITEM 36 (KNIFE)
Relative
to the genetic analysis performed on trace A (handle of the knife), we
agree with the conclusion reached by the Technical Consultant regarding
the attribution of the genetic profile obtained from these samples to
Amanda Marie Knox.
Relative
to trace B (blade of the knife) we find that the technical analyses
performed are not reliable for the following reasons:
1. There does not exist evidence which scientifically confirms that trace B (blade of knife) is the product of blood.
2.
The electrophoretic profiles exhibited reveal that the sample indicated
by the letter B (blade of knife) was a Low Copy Number (LCN) sample,
and, as such, all of the precautions indicated by the international
scientific community should have been applied.
3.
Taking into account that none of the recommendations of the
international scientific community relative to the treatment of Low Copy
Number (LCN) samples were followed, we do not accept the conclusions
regarding the certain attribution of the profile found on trace B (blade
of knife) to the victim Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher, since the
genetic profile, as obtained, appears unreliable insofar as it is not
supported by scientifically validated analysis;
4. International protocols of inspection, collection, and sampling were not followed;
5.
It cannot be ruled out that the result obtained from sample B (blade of
knife) derives from contamination in some phase of the collection
and/or handling and/or analyses performed.
ITEM 165B (BRA CLASPS)
Relative to Item 165B (bra clasps), we find that the technical analysis is not reliable for the following reasons:
1. There does not exist evidence which scientifically confirms the presence of supposed flaking cells on the item;
2. There was an erroneous interpretation of the electrophoretic profile of the autosomic STRs;
3. There was an erroneous interpretation of the electrophoretic profile relative to the Y chromosome;
4. The international protocols for inspection, collection, and sampling of the item were not followed;
5.
It cannot be ruled out that the results obtained derive from
environmental contamination and/or contamination in some phase of the
collection and/or handling of the item.
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