Italy Court Frees Amanda Knox

Murder conviction overturned, she and Sollecito walk free
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 3, 2011 2:58 PM CDT
Amanda Knox Freed: American Student's Murder Conviction Overturned in Italy
Amanda Knox, center, is escorted as she arrives for an appeal hearing at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.   (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Amanda Knox's four-year quest to prove her innocence in the murder of Meredith Kercher has come to its dramatic conclusion, with an Italian appeals court today overturning her 26-year prison sentence. Knox appeared extremely emotional while awaiting the verdict, and broke down completely as a judge announced it, reports the AP. The court upheld a three-year sentence for slander for Knox and ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, but they will be freed on time-served.

Meredith Kercher's family was in the courtroom for the verdict. Knox in a tearful final statement earlier today told the court, "I did not rape. I did not kill." (More Amanda Knox stories.)

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