Knox and Sollecito acquitted of Kercher murder
Amanda Knox is cleared after a court overturned her conviction for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher. Her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito also walked free from prison.
The 24-year-old American has spent four years behind bars for the killing in Perugia, Italy, that she insisted she played no part in.
But her nightmare ended when jurors in her appeal trial found her not guilty of stabbing Miss Kercher after forcing her into a violent sex game.
Knox, from Seattle, was jailed for 26 years in December 2009 after a year-long trial, along with her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 27, who was jailed for 25 years.
Knox walked out of the court in floods of tears, followed shortly afterwards by Sollecito, who showed little expression on his face.
Members of Knox’s family smiled and hugged each other after the results were read out by the judge. Some friends and relatives simply clasped their hands over their mouths, seemingly in surprise.
Her mother Edda Mellas helped wipe the tears from the face of one of her daughter’s friends as the verdict sunk in. Lawyers were also seen embracing and patting each other on the back.
Thankful the ‘nightmare’ is over
Her sister Diana said the Knox family were “thankful that Amanda’s nightmare is over”.
We are thankful that Amanda’s nightmare is over. Amanda Knox’s sister, Diana
She went on to thank her sister’s legal team.
“Not only did they defend her brilliantly, but they also loved her,” she said.
“We are thankful for all the support we have received from all over the world – people who took the time to research the case and could see that Amanda and Raffaele were innocent.
“And last, we are thankful to the court for having the courage to look for the truth and to overturn this conviction.”
‘Some tears’
Francesco Sollecito, the father of Raffaele Sollecito, said he had “allowed himself some tears” tonight.
Speaking outside the court room, he said his son had “nothing to do with the death of Meredith Kercher”.
Mr Sollecito said of the murdered student: “We will remember her with affection.
“I would have liked to talk to her relatives as well, as they have lost a daughter in a very cruel way.
“But tonight, they have given me back my son.”
Keme Nzerem is in Perugia and spoke to the Kercher family following the judgement. Meredith’s brother Lyle said: “We were prepared for every outcome, but this is not we had hoped for or expected.”
He said the Knox family had not approached his own family.
“The Knox family did not greet us or look at us, nothing at all,” he said.
Mr Kercher added that he would hold a press conference on Tuesday after “sleeping on it.”
The verdicts came after the former lovers delivered heartfelt addresses to the Perugia court earlier on Monday, proclaiming their innocence once more.
Knox, watched by her anxious family in the medieval chamber, declared: “I am not who they say I am – the perversion, the violence, the lack of respect for life – and I did not do the things they say I did.
“I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal. I was not there at the time.”
I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal. Amanda Knox
Choking back emotion, she told jurors: “I want to go back to my life. I do not want to be punished. I do not want my life taken away for something that I did not do because I am innocent.”
The semi-naked body of Leeds University student Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon in Surrey, was found on November 2, 2007, in the house she shared with Knox on her year abroad.
Small-time drug dealer Rudy Guede, 24, from the Ivory Coast, was jailed for the murder and sexual violence after separate proceedings and, while he too protests his innocence, his conviction was upheld on appeal.
Hundreds of people gathered in the streets outside the court shouted “shame” when they heard about the decision, in which Knox was also told she must pay 22,000 euros in compensation to Diya “Patrick” Lumumba, a barman she falsely accused of the murder.
Meredith’s brother Lyle and sister Stephanie comforted each other as they remained seated in the courtroom with their mother Arline.
Television pictures showed hundreds of people outside the court building, with dozens of cameramen and photographers trying to get pictures. Shouts and jeers could be heard outside the building in reaction to the acquittals.