In late 2007, Meredith Kercher, a 21-year-old from Surrey, England, was found stabbed to death in the flat where she and her roommates were living while they studied abroad in Italy. Her 20-year-old American roommate, Amanda Knox, and Knox’s boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, quickly emerged as primary suspects. Even though all conclusive physical evidence pointed elsewhere, Italian prosecutors focused on the alleged wrongdoings of the University of Washington student and her boyfriend.

Recently, Cox Media Group’s Nicole Bennett had the opportunity to speak with Monique Ming Laven, evening anchor for KIRO 7 News in Seattle, Washington, about Amanda Knox. Laven joined KIRO 7 in 2006. She has covered a wide range of stories during her career, including the 2009 and 2011 trials of Amanda Knox in Italy.

>> Listen to the full episode below.

Beyond Criminal Headlines is a true crime podcast where every two weeks, host Nicole Bennett sits down with esteemed journalists from across the industry who’ve covered some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Find the latest ‘Beyond Criminal Headlines’ content on any podcast provider or listen on demand here.

Knox and Sollecito were eventually acquitted in Meredith Kercher’s murder but only after they were twice convicted and spent years in jail over a case that covered the better part of a decade. Rudy Guede, a third suspect in the case, was tried separately from Knox and Sollecito in a “fast-track” process and was found guilty of Meredith Kercher’s murder and sexual assault in 2008. He was sentenced to serve 16 years and was released early last year.

Laven had the opportunity to sit down with Amanda Knox for an interview last month in which they discussed her reaction to Guede’s early release from prison, and her current advocacy work for the wrongfully accused.

RELATED CONTENT:

• Riley Benson on the Murdaugh investigations
• Michael Seiden on the Katie Janness murder investigation
• Philip Holloway on what’s next in the Tara Grinstead case

©2022 Cox Media Group