The Court of Cassation, Italy's top criminal court overturned Amanda Knox's acquittal for the killing of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, ordering for a new trial. Knox called the decision "painful" but was confident in the truth, the Associated Press reported.
"It was painful to receive the news that the Italian Supreme Court decided to send my case back for revision when the prosecution's theory of my involvement in Meredith's has murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and unfair," the Knox family issued a statement through a family spokesman. "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,"
Knox, now 25, is a student at the University of Washington. She was initially found guilty after her roommate Meredith Kercher's throat was slashed and body was found in the bedroom she shared with Knox and others in Perugia, an Italian university town where the two women were exchange students. Her murder, the courts said, was a result of a drug-fueled sex game gone wrong. Knox and Sollecito denied all wrongdoings, also saying they were not in the apartment on that evening, but they acknowledged their smoking marijuana may have impaired their memories, court documents revealed.
An Ivory Coast Man, Rudy Guede was convicted of the murder in a separate proceedings, and is currently serving a 16-year-sentence. Knox and Sollecito were initially convicted and given long prison sentences by the Italian Court. In 2011, they were acquitted on an appeal. On Tuesday, the high court's ruling overturned the appeals court.
At the hearing Monday, prosecutor Luigi Riello said that freeing Knox was a "violation of the law which must be annulled."I believe all the premises are there to make sure the final curtain does not drop on this shocking and dire crime," he told the judges.
Italy's judicial system allows for two levels of appeals, and prosecutors can appeal acquittals.
The date has yet been set for the retrial proceedings to begin, but will be held in Florence. The question persists whether Knox will be extradited.if she is convicted.
Knox's planned televised interview with Diane Sawyer, and forthcoming memoirs are still going on as planned.
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