A Day in the Life of Amanda Knox

Dec. 1, 2007 — -- An American college student jailed in connection with the murder of a British roommate spends her days in a sunlit cell with three other prisoners at Capanne Prison in Perugia, Italy, studying, reading and answering many of the letters she has received, she told a member of the Italian parliament who visited her there.

"Unless she has two completely different personalities," the Italian lawmaker, Osvaldo Napoli, told ABC News, "I personally found her to be an extraordinary girl who is clearly well-educated and has dignity."

Amanda Knox, 20, a University of Washington student studying in Italy, and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, are both suspects in the murder of Knox's British roommate, Meredith Kercher, 21. A panel of judges in Perugia Friday ruled that both will remain in Capanne Prison, where Knox has been held since Nov. 6.

Earlier this week, Napoli, a member of parliament who belongs to the Forza Italia Party, got a firsthand glimpse into Knox's current life. In Italy, parliamentarians have the right to visit prisoners, but prisoners can refuse to meet with them.

"When I first met Amanda, she presented herself to me with great respect and a gentle smile," said Napoli, who spoke with Knox for approximately 10 minutes in Italian, describing her as "sweet and polite" throughout their conversation.

ABC News spoke with Napoli after he spoke to Knox with the understanding that he would ask no questions regarding her case.

Knox's parents, Edda Mellas and Curt Knox, have steadfastedly supported their daughter, and at least one of them has visited Knox on every prison visitation day.

Knox's family, friends and lawyers have remained noticeably quiet while the rest of the world, specifically Italy, England and the United States, tries to paint its own picture of Knox. This silence, along with reports plagued by leaked documents and unconfirmed information, has made it difficult for the public to answer the looming question: Who is Amanda Knox?