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?

Upon entering her cell, Napoli said, "Amanda looked happy because she had just received a letter from a friend in America, and she was in the process of writing him a response when I arrived."

When asked about the television in her room, Knox told Napoli that she does not watch the news or read newspapers because she does not want to be involved in what is said about her publicly.

Napoli described Knox's cell and living situation to ABC News.

"Amanda's cell has four beds and she has three roommates whom she gets along with well," he said. "Two are Italian and one is Bolivian. Her bed is the first on the left upon entering her cell, which also has its own kitchen, shower and television. The room is filled with sunlight and seems to be a comfortable place."

Knox did admit that her first few days at Capanne were difficult, but Napoli described her current state, which was before the Friday ruling to keep her there, as "serene."

The Associated Press reported that last spring that Knox, who grew up in Seattle, made the dean's list at the University of Washington where, according to her own MySpace.com page, she was majoring in Italian and German, with a minor in creative writing.

While Knox's upcoming days will be spent in prison, the investigation into Kercher's murder continues. Knox and Sollecito are suspects, but have not been indicted.

In the meantime, according to Italian law, Knox's attorneys can appeal Friday's ruling.

Despite being detained by a system foreign to her, Knox told Napoli, "I have trust in the Italian legal system."