The family of Meredith Kercher is making it increasingly hard to feel sympathetic toward them. When an Italian court overturned the murder conviction of the dead exchange student's roommate, Amanda Knox, earlier this month, family members said they were going to look for the real murderer. But now the Kerchers are filing a $12 million lawsuit against Knox.
So much for "we're still searching for the real killer." This family might be in mourning, but they're acting completely irrational. They're demanding money from a woman in a courtroom to recoup losses from an alleged crime at the same time that they're telling the media they don't even know that she did it.
Just this week, Meredith's sister Stephanie told reporters at a news conference in Perugia, Italy:
Once we've got the reasons behind the decisions for this one, then we can understand why they have been acquitted of it and work toward finding those who are responsible ... That's the biggest disappointment, not knowing still and knowing that there is someone or people out there who have done this.
Not knowing. Finding those who are responsible. Those are the kind of words you use when you're confused, not when you're absolutely sure. And I'd hope you'd be pretty sure that someone hurt you if you have the hubris to expect that person owes you $12 million.
And Stephanie is not some loose cannon going rogue on the family. The sisters also have a brother Lyle, who told reporters earlier this month that the Kerchers are going to continue the search for the real killer:
Ultimately we accept the decision and respect the court, but we do find that we are left looking at this again. We are back at square one, left wondering what truly happened. It is my understanding that we will go ahead and appeal the decision.
The general reasoning behind a civil suit, especially after criminal options have been exhausted, is to punish a person for their actions. But the Kerchers themselves can't say Amanda Knox did anything wrong. If they don't believe it, how do they expect a jury to believe it?
Curiously there's no indication that the lawsuit names Rudy Guede, the Ivory Coast drifter who was also convicted in the case (along with Knox and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, also acquitted) and who remains in prison. With that in mind, this move sounds more like they're trying to cash in on Knox's fame -- and potential earnings from her popularity -- than any sort of justice at this point.
What's your read on the lawsuit? Does Amanda Knox owe the Kercher family money?
Image via Getty Images/Franco Origlia