Amanda Knox and her co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito have been freed by an appeals jury. The jury overturned the murder convictions for both in the killing of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, four years ago.
Knox and Sollecito were led from the courtroom back to the jail to get their belongings and to be processed and released. Reports say that she will return to the United States immediately… possibly by private jet.
Did she or didn’t she? That is the question an Italian Court of Appeals in Perugia, Italy must soon decide.
The appellate process is almost finished.
Amanda Knox was convicted and sentenced in December of 2009 to 26 years in an Italian prison for the murder of her college roomate, Meredith Kercher. Kercher was found with her throat slit in what was described as a very gory crime scene back on November 1, 2007. Since that time her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and another man have also been found guilty in the murder.
The appeal included testimony from two Sapienza University forensic experts who were independently appointed by the court. The expert’s reports and testimony concluded that the DNA testing, largely used to convict Knox, was completely flawed and unreliable.
It is likely that Knox will address the appellate court later this week to declare her innocence.
In Italy, the appellate court may decide on a wholly different sentence depending on their determination of the evidence. Prosecutors have asked for Knox to receive a sentence of life in prison with 6 months in solitary confinement. The defense has asked for an acquittal.
