Val, I just finished reading your article about Amanda Knox (“Outrage over Knox is enlightening, Val Torrens, Dec. 11).

I wanted to give you a compliment about having the courage to write about Miss Knox in a way that no one else has talked about. Americans sometimes feel that just being in another country gives us a reason to do things that are just not acceptable.

I was a homicide detective for several years in Southern California and have sat across the table from over 200 people who said they were innocent and then heard from parents and friends that said their relatives could not have done such a thing.

Youtube.com had several videos that let Knox describe her version of what happened. Most of the time large gaps appear where she does not remember anything because she and her boyfriend were loaded.

Thanks for doing a good job.

Jerry Geisel

Poulsbo