“My company does a lot of business in Italy and I can tell you, there’s a lot of anti-Americanism in spots.”
When Amanda pleaded with the court for her freedom, she spoke in fluent Italian, which she learned during her 4 years in prison. I heard that it really impressed the court. I said good for her!
That absolutely worked to her advantage. The Italians would see it as a sign of respect. It probably also helped her maintain her sanity, having a goal to achieve.