Episode 4 of *The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox* opens with a harrowing scene: a young man wielding a knife intrudes into a school, mere days before Meredith's tragic murder. When discovered lurking there the following day, he claims he merely sought shelter and insists he has no intention of harming anyone. Yet, the individual who finds him refuses to let him escape and promptly alerts the authorities.
Flashing forward to the present, Curt, Amanda's father, arrives in Italy with a perspective starkly different from that of his ex-wife. Addressing reporters, he declares his presence as a show of support for Amanda, believing that engaging with the media is the best strategy to reshape public perception of his daughter.
Suddenly, their television screen flickers with what appears to be a glimmer of hope. A news channel is discussing the latest breakthrough by the police, pinpointing a new suspect at the crime scene: Rudy Guede, the very man depicted at the episode's start.
As Amanda's legal team relays this thrilling development to her, the police delve deeper into Rudy's background. They orchestrate a ruse, having one of his acquaintances call him under the guise of offering assistance. Through this ploy, they uncover his hiding place in Germany. However, Rudy vehemently denies any culpability, asserting that he attempted to aid Meredith. His statements, though, remain shrouded in ambiguity.
Yet, amidst the chaos, the police stumble upon another revelation they had long sought to dismiss. Rudy confides in his friends that the world has misunderstood the situation and that Amanda is, in fact, innocent.
Despite this revelation, the detectives remain steadfast in their belief of Amanda's guilt. They rationalize that since they've always suspected multiple perpetrators, Rudy must be attempting to shield Amanda.
However, the evidence implicating Patrick as the culprit continues to crumble. Within days, he is finally exonerated and released. Amanda and Raffaele watch this unfold with a mix of nervous anticipation and hope, convinced that their own release will soon follow. Yet, their circumstances remain unchanged.
Almost immediately thereafter, Rudy finds himself swept into a swift trial where he is swiftly convicted and handed a comparatively lenient sentence. Soon after, he is whisked away from the public gaze, a stark contrast to the fate of Rafaelle and Amanda, who remain the police's primary suspects.
Nearly a year later, Amanda's legal team devises a novel strategy: they aim to bring the media into the courtroom. The press has yet to have a face-to-face encounter with Amanda or witness firsthand the intense police pressure she endured during interrogations. By inviting the media, they hope to prevent a recurrence of such coercive tactics.
The day of the trial finally dawns, and the media descends upon the courthouse in full force, poised to cast Amanda in a negative light. As she approaches the building, a throng of onlookers has gathered, some viewing her as the perpetrator, while her family stands steadfastly by her side, offering solace and support.
An Italian murder trial unfolds differently from the dramatic portrayals seen on television. It features at least two judges and six jury members. What sets this case apart is that Amanda's lawyers will not only be contending with the prosecutors but also with Patrick's legal representatives, who are seeking financial restitution for their client's ordeal.
Initially, the police refute all of Amanda's claims regarding her interrogation, during which she accused Patrick of guilt. They assert that the proceedings were conducted peacefully and accuse Amanda of fabricating stories about being struck.
After what seems like an eternity, Amanda finally gets an opportunity to converse with Rafaelle. During a recess, they are placed in adjacent cells. Rafaelle confesses that he had vowed to protect her but failed to do so adequately. The police's relentless pressure left him bewildered and fearful. Now, he reaffirms his commitment to stand by Amanda's side.
As the trial resumes, the situation only deteriorates. Patrick's imprisonment has devastated his business, and he clearly holds Amanda responsible. Meanwhile, one of Amanda's British friends harbors animosity towards her and testifies against her in court. She recounts everything Meredith disliked about Amanda, suggesting motives that could have led to the murder. When Knox attempts to defend herself, she inadvertently says the wrong things, further damaging her case.
Later, during a private conversation with Don Saulo, he gently implores her to bare her soul, to show them the true depths of her heart. On the second day of the trial, she strides into the courtroom with a radiant smile, donning a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “All you need is love.” Despite her purest intentions, both the media and the court relentlessly tear into her, their words like daggers.
On the third day, the blow comes from an unexpected quarter: her friend Filomena, who turns against her, leaving Amanda even more stunned. As Mignini interrogates the girl, he coerces her into claiming that she had left her window shut on the day of the murder, even though her memory is hazy on the matter. All this, driven by his desperate desire to prove that the alleged break-in was a mere fabrication.
Thankfully, Amanda's legal team is ready with a compelling rebuttal. They point out that if Filomena's window is ancient and prone to swinging open on its own, it's entirely plausible that it could have done so on that fateful day, especially considering the blustery conditions of the season.
Finally, Amanda takes the stand once more, but this time, she presents her case with clarity and conviction. She acknowledges that she may have done things that others disapproved of, but she emphasizes that she was always willing to engage in open dialogue, and that disagreements never escalated into confrontations. Thus, she urges the judges not to assume that the household was a constant battleground of tension.
The episode's climax is the most jaw-dropping revelation yet, as it peels back the layers of the murder mystery. It transports viewers back to the day of the incident, where Rudy smashes through the window to gain entry into the house, intending only to use the bathroom. However, he is startled by the sound of a door creaking open.
In the dim light, we only witness him extinguishing the lights before retreating to the bathroom, where he meticulously cleans his blood-stained knife and hands. Afterward, he descends to the boy's dormitory downstairs, lingers for a moment, and then sets off in search of a spot to discard the girls' phones. Rudy emerges as the true perpetrator, acting alone in stark contrast to the police's beliefs.
