Italy’s highest court weighs Amanda Knox acquittal. (PHOTO COURTESY: By walknboston Flickr: Gavel)
Compiled By Samantha Martin
Italy’s highest criminal court heard arguments from prosecutors on Monday appealing Amanda Knox’s acquittal in the murder of her British roommate in 2007.
The Globe and Mail reports prosecutors are asking the court to throw out the acquittals of Knox, who was “very anxious” in court on Monday, in the murder of 21-year-old student, Meredith Kercher.
Italian prosecutors are also trying to order a new trial, which conflicts the laws in the U.S. that prevents “authorities from retying a criminal defendant who has been acquitted of a charge,” according to CNN.
Knox, now 25, and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, 28, were arrested in 2007, shortly after Kercher was found with her throat slashed in the apartment she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy, where they were exchange students.
In 2009, the pair was convicted. Knox was given a 26-year sentence and Sollecito received 25 years.
In 2011, the appeals court acquitted both of them and criticized the case mounted by prosecutors in the first trial.
The defence noted that the murder weapon was never found, and the DNA tests were faulty. The defence also pointed out that Knox and Sollecito didn’t have a motive to murder Kercher.
Knox was able to return to her hometown of Seattle after four years in jail, and Sollecito was able to continue his education in computer science.
Prosecutors are now seeking to overturn the acquittals in the second and highest level of appeal, while defence attorneys are saying they should stand.
If the court decides to throw out the acquittal and orders a retrial, Knox would not have to return to Italy, as there is no law for defendants to be in court.
A verdict could come later Monday.