Google caves to Italian judge. Shuts down Amanda Knox site -- WORLDWIDE.

Bet you didn't know that an Italian judge could force an American company to shut down a blog worldwide. I sure didn't.

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/05/frank_sfarzo_amanda_knox-suppo.php

Sfarzo told CPJ that he received an email from Google, which hosts the site, last night informing him that a court order has been issued for the "preventive closure" of his blog dedicated to the Kercher case. In compliance with that order, Google took down Perugia Shock; it is now unavailable. It was from the court order, Sfarzo told CPJ, that he learned that Perugia Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini--who has a long-standing record of anti-press actions--has filed a lawsuit against Perugia Shock for "defamation, carried out by means of a website." The court order, which stemmed from Mignini's claim, was issued on February 23 by Florentine Judge Paola Belsino. Mignini is the lead prosecutor on the Kercher case.

SNIP

Mignini had long sought to have the blog shut down, but being that Google is an American company, most thought the Italian government would be powerless to force the issue.

Apparently they were wrong. Or Google's Blogger administrators are just a bunch of pansies.

At any rate, here's Sfarzo's last blog post, since here at Seattle Weekly we are decidedly pansy-free.

SNIP

There was that contretemps a while back with the Chinese . . . .

from China. I expected better from Italy -- and from Google.

Also, wasn't the issue with China whether Google could be there at all? I can't imagine that Google was afraid that Italy would keep Google out if they failed to comply with the judge's order.

And lets see what happens.

the more it confirms that she IS being railroaded.

If they really had a case, it would stand on its own public feet. The more they hide it, the less they must have.

the DNA data. Knox was convicted even though the prosecution never supplied the original DNA data to the defense, after REPEATED requests -- the judges just didn't care. Now that it's finally under appeal -- after three years -- the new judge is insisting on getting the underlying data. The case was supposed to be decided this month but it has been delayed again for another 40 days. Why? Because the prosecution is STILL balking on showing the DNA data. Their lab insists that it isn't necessary, so they still haven't handed it over. If it exists at all!