Episode 3 of *The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox* delves back into Giuliano Mignini’s formative years. Having lost his father at a tender age, Mignini found himself shouldering significant responsibilities from a young age. As a wave of crime swept through his city, spurred on by a notorious serial killer on the loose, he felt a compelling urge to shield his family from harm. This resolve ultimately led him down the path to becoming a detective.
Fast-forwarding to a darker chapter, we witness a heartwarming scene of Amanda and Meredith engaging in lighthearted banter and laughter just days before Meredith’s tragic murder. They share whimsical visions of their future together. Yet, the episode swiftly transitions to a harrowing present, where Amanda finds herself confined within prison walls, subjected to the indignity of having her body photographed by officers as part of the investigation. The agony is compounded by her profound confusion over the reasons for her incarceration.
A prison guard escorts her to her cell, delivering the chilling news that she stands accused of homicide. Left to her own devices, Amanda is consumed by despair, struggling to grasp the gravity of her predicament. Meanwhile, her mother, Edda, arrives at the prison in a desperate bid to see her daughter, only to be thwarted by unyielding guards. Owing to Edda’s different surname following her divorce, the guards are hesitant to confirm their relationship. Adding to the chaos, Edda is rendered helpless by her inability to communicate in Italian.
Mignini, returning to his office after a grueling day spent accompanying Meredith’s family to view their daughter’s lifeless body, unleashes his frustration on his team. He berates them for prematurely leaking information to the press, declaring the case closed. Now, he faces the daunting task of assembling compelling evidence within a mere three days to present before the judge.
The investigation teeters on the brink of uncertainty, with no concrete proof linking Amanda or her associates to the crime—save for a dubious confession. The evidence at their disposal is flimsy at best. For instance, a grainy camera recording captures a figure resembling Amanda near the crime scene, yet it is far from conclusive. Despite these shortcomings, the authorities persist in weaving elaborate theories that implicate Amanda, Patrick, and Rafaelle in the heinous act.
Then, chronologically, we are introduced to Don Saulo for the first time. He is a priest who offers to have a conversation with the inmates. Amanda, however, declines his assistance, citing that she is not Catholic. Nevertheless, Don Saulo assures her that his doors remain perpetually open.
The following day, the prison guard escorts Amanda to his room and presents her with a donut, noticing that she hasn't been eating properly. Yet, his veneer of kindness swiftly crumbles as he starts inquiring about her sexual experiences. His ulterior motives become evident, and he persistently badgers the girl with lascivious questions until she, exhausted, pleads that she needs to return to her room.
Thankfully, Amanda receives a visit from her mother shortly after. Both are overwhelmed with relief upon seeing each other and immediately begin discussing the case. Unfortunately, the outlook for Amanda is bleak. Even if she is released, she might face house arrest. Still, they strive to maintain a sense of optimism.
Amanda manages to regain a glimmer of her former vivacity and attempts to focus on the fact that things could be far worse. Had she not spent the night with Rafaelle, she might well be dead too. Then, the guards arrive to take her away again, and she implores her mother to visit her soon.
The day finally arrives when Amanda must appear before her prosecutor once more. This time, however, she has lawyers by her side to assist her. The girl remains silent, merely listening to the arguments presented by both sides to the judge. Soon, the voices start to blend together, and she struggles to comprehend what is transpiring.
When the proceedings conclude, one of the lawyers informs her that the judge will need to deliberate. This is because there is no concrete evidence, nor is there a murder weapon. However, the situation rapidly deteriorates for Amanda when the police discover her fingerprints and Meredith’s DNA on Rafaelle’s knife.
Her lawyers attempt to piece together how this could have happened, but even Amanda cannot provide an explanation. The only certainty she holds is her innocence. They also inform her that house arrest is no longer an option, as the judge considers her a potential risk. Thus, she will have to remain in prison for up to a year.
Meanwhile, the series shifts its focus to the people fervently campaigning for the freedom of their loved ones. Journalists swarm around Amanda’s mother as she endeavors to make her way home safely. Additionally, there are protests aiming to make it abundantly clear that Patrick is innocent.
The police stood by, watching the protest unfold with visible disgust, frustrated by their inability to gather the conclusive evidence needed to put an end to it. To complicate matters further, various clients came forward, asserting that Patrick had been at work during the time of the incident, thus providing him with a solid alibi. Yet, Mignini refused to accept this, stubbornly seeking another avenue through which Patrick could have committed the crime.
Then, Mignini received another blow when he learned that the coroner had informed the press that rape could not be confirmed. This revelation threw his theories into even greater disarray, fueling his fury.
After undergoing a medical test, Amanda was devastated to learn from a doctor that she had tested positive for HIV. In her state of panic, she sought solace from Don Saulo. He did his utmost to comfort her, emphasizing the importance of her believing in her own innocence and disregarding the opinions of others, whether his or anyone else's.
Meanwhile, Mignini found himself in a heated argument with the coroner. He accused the coroner of being overly concerned with semantics rather than the pursuit of justice. However, the coroner stood his ground, telling the detective that he was mistaken and that his primary duty was to provide the truth to the grieving family.
The day of the new court hearing dawned. Amanda would have a translator by her side, allowing her to communicate solely in English. She felt significantly more at ease and composed than before, confident that nothing untoward would occur. Her lawyers, too, exuded confidence and supported her every move.
But Mignini was unwilling to accept any of Amanda's responses and continued to press her relentlessly. Amanda struggled to maintain her composure, but the detective showed no signs of relenting. Even as tears began to stream down her face, he displayed no empathy. And then, it happened. After enduring his barrage of questions, Amanda became confused once again and inadvertently stated that during her confession, she had believed Patrick to be guilty.
Though not as damning as her previous blunder, it was still enough to elicit a smirk from the inspector. However, neither of them would find peace that night.
Upon returning to her cell, Amanda was shocked to find it in disarray. She sought an explanation from the guard, who merely remarked that she should be grateful since her HIV test result had been a false positive. Then, she realized that her journals were missing—the very journals in which she had poured her thoughts as a means of preserving her sanity. Now, her deepest secrets were exposed, and the media was exploiting them against her.
Meanwhile, Mignini received the news that the fingerprints found in Meredith's room did not belong to Amanda, Patrick, or Rafaelle, but to someone entirely unknown.
