her boss patrick lumumba was there as well. at that point amanda knox officially ceased to be a witness. she became the suspect. the police held a press conference later that day announcing to the world they had solved the crime, case closed. according to police, meredith kercher had been killed because she would not take part in a sex game, a sex game orchestrated by amanda knox, her boyfriend, raffaello and patrick lumumba. >> translator: i've always said that this is a crime that was born of succession. it was step by step. there was no planning. >> all three were arrested and charged with murder, but the tabloid press turned their attention to one of the accused in particular, amanda. when the papers hit newsstands next day, foxy knoxy would be all over the front page. in the weeks and months that followed their arrests, new evidence would emerge. a knife found in al ella's apartment. both amanda's and meredith's dna on it. meredith's bra clasp tested positive for raffaello's dna. a homeless man came forward claiming to hav

the third suspect patrick lumumba had an airtight alibi. he was in his crowded bar that night.lved. then the actual forensic tests came back. >> when i looked at it, i was horrified. >> greg hampikian is a forensic biologist at boise state university and director of idaho's innocence project. he also was working with the knox defense team. he says italian investigators did a good job processing the crime scene, collected excellent evidence, but clung to shakier evidence that proved their theory, a classic error, he says, a prosecutor who trusted his gut feeling instead of the science that at that time was pointing to another suspect. >> they didn't like the way amanda behaved, whatever that means, and so they wanted to investigate her and raffaello and her boss. when the dna is finally processed, it's not any of their suspects. so what do you do? what would you do? you let them go. >> as patrick lumumba was being released from jail, investigators analyzing the bloody evidence left at the crime scene found an entirely new suspect. his name? rudy guede, a known petty criminal fro

and one of the interviews that they did with patrick lumumba was one of the most damaging interviewsone, really painted her as a character who was going to be replaced in her job by meredith kercher. he put a motive into the case. when i interviewed him because american journalists don't pay for interview, when i interviewed him for my book, he retracted every bit of it. i don't know that she's been celebrityfied as demonized. >> thomas wright, you're a knox family friend. it's been a trial by media as much as trial in a courtroom for amanda knox. very tough for her and her family. how have they all been baerg up? >> it's been incredibly difficult, piers. one of the things i'd like to do is correct the record. amanda knox is not a liar. this is an outstanding young woman. those of us who have known her for years noe know that. number one, we don't know what took place in the police station because it wasn't recorded as required by italian law by the prosecutor. it's very curious that that prosecutor didn't record it considering that he'd already been convicted and has been convicted

that's one of the reasons why patrick lumumba was immediately released when they finally checked out what did they do? they just said, okay, well, patrick -- amanda knox -- >> sorry. we're obviously having trouble connecting with drew. what was it about this case that you think has so fascinated people and so fascinated you? >> well, there are a number of things. we as a society are far more interested in the occasional allegedly evil female than we are the more run of the mill kind of domestically or sexually violent man. and it was happening in italy. a play pen for all of us. and that was fascinating. >> it's all in your book "the fatal gift of beauty." it's a fascinating read. thank you for being with us. we'll be right back. two of the most important are energy security and economic growth. north america actually has one of the largest oil reserves in the world. a large part of that is oil sands. this resource has the ability to create hundreds of thousands of jobs. at our kearl project in canada, we'll be able to produce these oil sands with the same emissions as many other oils

when the evidence came back, remember, patrick lumumba was also arrested. based on the confession of amanda knox. the police had just checked her own confession, which she said was coerced, they would have known that patrick lumumba had an airtight alibi. he was running his bar with a lot of people in the bar that night. they had to let him go. the dna comes back and they still include raffaele sollecito and amanda knox even though none of that forensic evidence was there. to prove they were at the crime scene. >> why do people give confessions that are false to police? we hear this time and time again. people always ask that question. i would never confess to the police. how does that happen? >> until you're under the gun, until you're a -- especially look at her, for example. a young girl in a foreign country who feels very alone and very frightened. and perhaps is being -- on some level, whether it's implicit or explicit, is being assured that if she does admit some culpability, it will be better for her if she dels the truth right now, there's that prom

she's found guilty of slandering her former boss patrick lumumba when she fingered him for the murder during a controversial statement to police that she later retracted but then -- [ speaking italian ] >> reporter: -- acquittal on the murder charges. the jury demanding that amanda and raffaele must be released immediately. and despite the judge's repeated demands for silence, the crowd cannot contain its emotions. the stunning reversal of fortune is too much for the 24-year-old to bear. she breaks down in court tears streaming as she is hustled away. outside the courthouse, mignini is jeered and booed by the crowd while amanda's sister deanna is exultant. >> we're thankful amanda's nightmare is over. she suffered for four year force a crime she did not commit. we are thankful for the support we have received from all over the world and last we are thankful to the court for having the courage to look for the truth in overturning the conviction. >> she's looking forward to have a future back home and looking to go back as soon as possible. >> reporter: knox returns to the capanne priso

maybe she lied to police about patrick lumumba, her former boss. she's done something. we're not sure what it was. but we're going to let her go after four years. in other words, they want to save face. they know that there isn't a shred of evidence against her. and they're embarrassed. they're not going to say she's totally innocent. they'll say she's partly innocent. >> that will be music to amanda knox's parents' ears. they arrived in italy with an empty suitcase, we hear. we have to leave it there, judy. we appreciate your time. on monday, we'll have a special edition of "gma," amanda knox, judgment day, live from italy. dan, obviously, that empty suitcase was meant to put amanda's belongings in and take her home. >> we'll find out on monday. >>> now, to politics. and new jersey governor, chris christie. we hear from abc's jon karl that christie is likely to make a decision whether to jump in the race for the republican nomination within days. and that his wife, who was opposed to the idea, is now warming to it. but before christie makes up his mind, he is being con