perugia shock

An ordeal four years long, concentrated in this long, dark, hot night. Even the summer seems to have stopped, to wait for her.

And, after the infinite night, the longest day is about to start.  An army of unchained cameramen and photographers will invade the courtroom, stopping their assault only when the jury enters.  Her lawyer Luciano Ghirga will start speaking, predictably at about 10. Then Raffaele will take the stand. Then she, the protagonist, will make a speech for her life.

Then: nothing. A long day to pass waiting. Amanda and Raffaele will probably spend it in a courthouse cell. Or maybe she, whose jail is closer, will be brought back there for a few hours.

Reportedly Hellmann already asked for lunch and maybe dinner to be served to the sequestered jury. But not for beds and night service.  They will withdraw about noon and come out with the verdict in about 6 hours. Hopefully Hellmann will tell us how long there will be to wait before going.

The time for the jury then goes into the summing up of the case, point by point, which will be performed presumably by assistant judge Zanetti.  Then the questions of the jurors to the judges, if any. Lot’s of words. Then the only word counts: “innocent” or “guilty”.

The vote will take place. First the jurors, starting from the youngest up to the oldest. Then Zanetti, and the President as last.

The majority wins.