Amanda from Seattle and Meredith from Britain met while studying abroad in Italy. They roomed together with two Italian women. At first, everything was peachy keen, but, as happens so often with roommates, the relationship soon soured. Their differences, cultural and personality-wise, soon opened up a rift between them. Meredith took offense at Amanda's behavior and many boyfriends, and Amanda considered Meredith to be prudish.

One night in November, Amanda's employer at the local bar informed her that business was slow and he did not need her. So, she spent the night with her boyfriend. The next day, her roommate, Meredith, was found dead with her throat slashed.

The Italian press painted Amanda as an evil nymphomaniac who callously slaughtered her roommate. However, the Americans dubbed her Angel Face, on account of her beauty, and they believed that she could do no wrong.

Meredith's family in Britain, of course, was devastated by the brutal murder of their daughter. The last thing they expected when she went abroad was that she would return in a body bag.

Angel Face: The True Story of Student Killer Amanda Knox by Barbie Latza Nadeau, 2010

• Barbie Nadeau's web site
• Books about killers