Amanda Knox was freed on Friday after the Supreme Court of Italy threw out her conviction, in connection to the murder of her former roommate, for good.
The 27-year-old was previously convicted in 2007 for the murder of Meredith Kercher – Knox would’ve served 28 years in an Italian prison but only served four in the end.
Yahoo! News reports:
The surprise decision definitively ends the 7½-year legal battle waged by Knox, 27, and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito, 31, to clear their names in the gruesome 2007 murder and sexual assault of British student Meredith Kercher.
The supreme Court of Cassation panel deliberated for 10 hours before declaring that the two did not commit the crime, a stronger exoneration than merely finding insufficient evidence to convict. Instead, had the court-of-resort upheld the pair’s convictions, Knox would have faced 28 ½ years in an Italian prison, assuming she would have been extradited, while Sollecito had faced 25 years.
Amanda has since returned to her family in Seattle. She made this statement about her freedom:
I am tremendously relieved and grateful for the decision of the Supreme Court of Italy. The knowledge of my innocence has given me strength in the darkest times of this ordeal.
She continued:
And throughout this ordeal, I have received invaluable support from family, friends, and strangers. To them, I say: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness has sustained me. I only wish that I could thank each and every one of you in person.
Knox’s mother was overwhelmed with joy when she heard the news. Thoughts?
SOURCE: Yahoo! News, Just Jared | PHOTO/VIDEO CREDIT: NDN
