Nearly two decades after the tragic death of Meredith Kercher, her story continues to stir both public fascination and deep grief. A new Hulu series, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, revisits one of Italy’s most infamous cases, reigniting discussion around the events that shocked the world in 2007.
Meredith Kercher, a 21-year-old British exchange student, was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, when her life was cut short. She shared a modest four-bedroom apartment with American student Amanda Knox and two Italian roommates. On November 1, 2007, Kercher was found dead in her bedroom, her body showing multiple stab wounds. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as hemorrhagic shock due to injuries to her neck.
The brutality of the case—and the international lens through which it unfolded—made headlines across continents. But while the story has been retold countless times, it remains a source of unresolved tension, particularly for Kercher’s family.
Who Killed Meredith Kercher?
The only individual ever definitively convicted of Meredith Kercher’s murder is Rudy Guede, an Ivorian man whose DNA and fingerprints were found at the crime scene. Guede fled Italy after the crime but was eventually arrested, tried, and convicted. His original 30-year sentence was reduced to 16 on appeal, and after serving 13 years, he was released early in 2021 for good behavior.
Yet Guede’s life post-prison has not been free from controversy. He is currently facing new charges related to sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend, casting fresh shadows over a man long linked with violence.
Meanwhile, Amanda Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were also drawn into the case. Both were convicted of Kercher’s murder in 2009 but ultimately acquitted by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015 after years of appeals. Knox spent four years in prison before her release in 2011.
Knox’s Perspective, 17 Years Later
The new Hulu series places Knox once again at the center of public scrutiny. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Knox acknowledged the enduring pain of the Kercher family, saying:
“What they’ve conveyed is a distancing from me, but that’s understandable, considering the myriad lies they were told about me. Honestly, it’s very common in wrongful conviction cases. But I think about Meredith all the time. She was a young 21-year-old girl who went to Italy to have the best experience of her life. And she didn’t get to go home.”
Knox has also shared that she has attempted to reach out to the Kercher family over the years, though she has never had direct contact. “I feel like nothing I could ever say could satisfy them as long as they think that I had something to do with Meredith’s death,” she told Newsweek. “I’ve already said everything that I know.”
For Knox, the series represents an opportunity to reclaim her narrative as a wrongfully convicted woman, but it also risks reopening old wounds.
The Kercher Family’s Response
For Meredith Kercher’s family, the pain has never eased. Stephanie Kercher, Meredith’s sister, recently reflected on her sibling’s legacy:
Still, the family expressed dismay at Hulu’s dramatization, questioning its purpose. “It’s difficult to understand how this series serves any value,” they shared in a statement. “Meredith will always be remembered for her own fight for life, and yet in her absence, her love and personality continue to shine. We will forever feel this indescribable void, but we live by Meredith’s standards with dignity.”
Their lawyer, Francesco Maresca, has gone further, accusing Knox of exploiting Meredith’s story for personal gain. “Her behavior has always prevented any rapprochement between Meredith’s family and Knox,” Maresca told Newsweek. “I’m sure they won’t watch the TV drama because once again it is violating the memory of the beautiful girl that Meredith was.”
Memory, Media, and the Weight of Legacy
The release of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox underscores the complicated interplay between justice, storytelling, and grief. For Knox, it is a chance to reclaim her side of a story long distorted by tabloids and trials. For Meredith Kercher’s family, it is another painful reminder that the world continues to dissect their daughter’s life and death.
At its core, the tragedy remains the same: Meredith Kercher was a young woman brimming with potential, a student who dreamed of experiencing life abroad but whose journey was cut short. As her sister emphasized, Meredith’s kindness and spirit endure, even as the retelling of events continues to cast shadows over her memory.
The tension between honoring Meredith’s legacy and revisiting the sensationalism of her case will likely remain unresolved. Yet for those who knew her, Meredith’s story is not defined by the headlines or TV specials—it is defined by her warmth, her laughter, and the indelible mark she left on those who loved her.
