US student Amanda Knox thought her painful Italian court battle was behind her, but in an incredible turnaround, her trial will be reopened.
Italy’s highest appeal court has rejected her 2011 acquittal for the sexual assault and murder of Meredith Kercher and ordered a retrial.
The 25-year-old spent four years in jail for the murder of her British housemate in 2007.
Amanda and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively for their alleged involvement in Meredith’s death in the Italian town of Perugia. A third defendant, Rudy Guede, who has also denied the murder, is the only person still in prison for the crime.
Amanda, who immediately moved back to the US following her release from jail, says that although the news was “painful” she is prepared to fight.
“The prosecution’s theory of my involvement in Meredith’s murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and unfair,” she said in a statement.
“No matter what happens, my family and I will face this continuing legal battle as we always have, confident in the truth and with our heads held high in the face of wrongful accusations and unreasonable adversity.”
Prosecutors allege that Meredith, who was found half-naked in a pool of blood with her throat slashed, was killed during a drug-fuelled sex attack. They claim Knox delivered the final blows as Sollecito and Guede held her down.
Although a trial date hasn’t been set, it is expected that Amanda will remain in the US for the duration of the trial. If she is convicted definitively, the Italian court may seek her extradition, despite the fact that the United States does not normally hand over its citizens for legal action.
The astonishing turnaround comes as prosecutors warned the court to “make sure the final curtain does not drop on this shocking and dire crime”, saying the acquittal contained “omissions and many mistakes”.
Meredith’s family welcomed the news, with her sister telling Sky News there are “still questions that are unanswered and we are all looking to find out the truth”.
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