I simply fail to undertstand those that champion the idea that drugs caused the murder and vile behaviour. As long as we find excuses for people behaving like animals, there will be more weak willed individuals who want to unleash thier animal instincts. Why even animals excercise restraint in every possible way. So why should human being supposedly blessed with a bigger brain and worthy of poetic intellect, fall to such demonic behaviour. Punish the guilty severely and that will stop others from even thinking about drug induced orgies and murders. Simply put, crime without severe consequence motivates the criminally inclined to defy any law.

Ash, London, UK

I'm so sad about the poor Meredith. Since when it happened, I never stopped to pray for her, even if I never met her.
Sweet Mez, I hope that sooner they will find people who hurted you so much.. Don't worry, we are all so close to you.
Now you won't feel cold anymore... God's light shine into you!
Dear Angel, I'll never let you alone, my prayers and my thoughts will be always with your family and you.
Much love.

Valentina, Nocera Umbra, Perugia, Italy

My thoughts and prayers are with Merdith and her family. May you find peace at some point in this terrible senseless tragedy.

My hope is that the authorities can somehow sort though all of this and convict and punish the right people.

I don't know what the right punishment is. Whenever I see in the news a story about a senseless, tragic act of violence I think to myself what I would want to happen to the criminal if it was one of my loved ones who was hurt or killed. The answer is easy then. But again, I don't know if that is the right answer for the benefit of society as a whole.

May God be with those who are trying to sort this out and bring the criminals to justice!

Katie, Omaha Nebraska

Katie, Omaha, USA

I feel bad for Meredith. What kinda of person is knox, she does not remember if she had sex or not. And if she was present during the time of the murder and did'int do a thing, I pray to god that she gets the maximum punishment.

SaysK, Biella Italy, Italy

The death penalty might not have prevented this... that's not the point. For such clear-cut guilt, who wants to live in a world where someone who's capable of such sickening depravity is let off with a jail term.

Alan, London, UK

Amanda, et. al, have already been tried, convicted and sentenced by British media. For the sake of international relations and the NATO alliance, all three will be sacrificed on the alter of diplomacy and political expediancy-- and not justice.

Bob, Somewhere, USA

This is one of the saddest, and possibly most horrendous stories I've read recently. My thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. I hope it is found that these three were not involved, but the evidence seems to be saying otherwise. It is possible drugs were involved, which would explain their turning into "monsters." There have been other such stories... I believe in the death penalty, but not in all cases of murder. It depends on the nature of the crime committed and whether they are likely to repeat such a thing (was it influenced by drugs or inherent evil); or maybe the family who suffered the loss should get to decide (based on whether or not they would feel more at peace/that justice had been served). The death penalty can have those two possible defenses: 1) family retribution; 2) to prevent further violent crime by this offender. I do not believe it is a deterrent to first offenders, but can stop future crime by one determined to be so predisposed.

Nancy Jones, Wheaton, USA

Despite the fact that the USA has death penalty it also has the highest rate of killings in the western world. Death penalty is not the solution. We should all first concentrate on education as it is crucial to stop these horrible things to happened. When it comes to prisoners, I would however be very pleased to see them work in third world countries, building houses or whatever other labour work they can do. They should be allowed to have free food, TVs ....
All my thoughts are with meridith's familly and friends.

Gabrielle, London, UK

I really wonder what rushes through the mind of people committing such awful crimes. You may talk with them friendly one day, and just a few days or hours later they can mutate in monsters carrying knives and realeasing their worst killer instinct to get what? Well, in that case sexual satisfaction...I do not believe in death penalty, maybe would I, if any of my children would be slaughtered like a beast. The real issue is to understand the complicated and weird situations which lead individuals to become animals. At any rate, justice should be far more tougher on this particular point, and make sure to provide hell on earth for those assassins.
God bless the memory of Meredith, and strengthens her family.

Myriam, Strasbourg, France

It's a tragedy. For those that believe the death penalty would have prevented this crime, it would not have. Murder is either planned, which means the criminals don't give a damn about the consequences, or it's a crime of passion - someone decides to kill in the heat of the moment - and again, the consequences are not being considered at that moment. So, the death penalty will not stop murder. Supporting the death penalty to punish the criminals is simply giving into the desire to seek retribution. An eye-for-an-eye does not belong in a civilized society.

David, Ottawa, Canada

I have read all i can on this case and all i can feel is a sorrow and a loss for somebody i have never known or met, I sat at my desk at work today and just wanted to cry. A young life exstinguished for no reason other than the fact she said no.
I cannot imagine how her father must feel, the loss, the despair, the rage. This would be enough to send somebody into a killing rage. I dont know how him, his family and everybody that knew this girl can move on. I cant explain what im trying to say even. Its just the constant question "why".
Im not an expert and dont have the answers but all 3 of the people involved in her death even if just by lying about it have condoned it and are just as guilty and i pray that they recieve the maximum force of the law because if they dont then there is no justice in the world. Goodbye princess x

mike, durham, england

How has the death penalty stopped this sort of stupid thing from happening in the US? Get real.

J. Manifielding, boston, mass, usa

The death penalty will never come back as the so called Justice system can not be trusted. They don’t mind locking you up for years for something you haven’t done but draw the line at killing innocent people.

James Hanratty was the last person to hung in this country and he was innocent. The legal system is corrupt and decisions are predetermined or juries influenced.

How many people have been found not guilty after spending years in jail, the question we should ask is, how did they manage to get it so wrong? The defense don’t defend they just pretend too, if one seems guilty, there is no honor in Courts it’s all a sham.

The legal system is rotten to the core.

Tony, London,

My prayers are with Merediths family... but
How much longer are we going to allow these people to get away with these things???? In the UK especially the law has gone backwards, the victims are treated like the criminals and vice versa! We keep building prisons but the problems are still there, people are getting worse sentences for litter dropping nowadays then for murder! Human rights are only relevent to law abiding people, people that do this are NOT human they are monsters! When are we going to say enough is enough??

Alex, Birmingham, UK

I am in complete agreement with the re-establishment of the death penalty. The sooner it's introduced the better!
If a clear case of murder is decided, there should be no other punishment but death. Not life sentences. According to some sentences given : Life no longers means "Life". Such a farce when murderers are getting released on good behaviour & then receive police protection !!

The Law is an Ass !

Lorraine, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

Her life has been cut so short at only 21. Her death does not even appear to be peaceful. How tragic.

Josh, London, UK

From the reported facts I would guess the dynamic was definately one of fear and manipulation from Lumamba to Knox, and on the fact of things I would believe Sollecito that he was at home and was drawn into this. It also makes sense she wasn't there, or she left early on when it turned nasty.
This case is about Lumamba. Knox is guility for her cowardice and her foolishness..she probably never believed it would come to murder or even serious harm.
Prediction: Lumamba will end up found guilty, Knox will turn evidence and get off lightly and Sollecito will only be charged with lying to protect Knox.

Ingslot Vonnesline, London, England

Sad to see a girl so young die in such a brutal way. She must have been so scared just before she died. How can anyone do this to another human being?? I really feel for her family.

RIP Meredith

Simon, London, UK

Sounds like a variant of The Talented Mr Ripley.

Henry Percy, London, UK

Just want to remember great words "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind", stop violence

clò, Milano, Italy

What about human right...how can you give death sentence to someone who killed just for jun...sexual fun!!!!
Look at the soham murderer...he is watching porn movies in the prison at the cost of our tax money....cos he has stupid human right....what a wonderful civilised world we live in....??????
People who talk about human right should think about these things happeneing to them...perhaps one can't think until it really happens to them........my foot...its not human right....its nonsense. Its bloody nonsense. Hang them in public.

Minu, London, UK

That’s the result of this Godless world where human beasts put their pleasure at the first place and other people’s life after. Clearly, the fact that everyone is provided with a brain is not enough to affirm that everyone thinks. I wonder what kind of upbringing could lead a human being to be so empty.

RIP, Meredith

Marco, Torino, Italy

The Europeans had better awaken and reinstate the death penalty or they'll soon have chaos to deal with as the Barbarians of society continue to get bolder.
The way it's going here in America, we'll probably have to have firing squads to deal with these animals.

Yank, Warrenton, Missouri

If found guilty, the death sentence please....and no excuses.

Chris, Newcastle upon Tyne,

How absolutely ghastly for the family - to lose a child is bad enough, but under such circumstances absolutely incomprehensibly devastating. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK