Italy Orders Amanda Knox Be Retried

The Amanda Knox legal drama isn't over yet. Italy's highest criminal court today overturned her 2011 acquittal in the slaying of her British roommate and ordered a new trial, reports the AP. The Court of Cassation ruled that an appeals court in Florence must re-hear the case against the American and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, for the murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. What this means for Foxy Knoxy:

• The issues under question: ...are still unknown. The specific issues that have to be reconsidered will be revealed when the court releases its full ruling—within 90 days. The BBC notes that the court didn't review the details of the case, but instead considered whether procedural irregularities occurred.
• What did the prosecutor say? NPR reports that he argued that the appeals court had been too quick to disregard DNA evidence.

• Will Knox have to go back to Italy? Nope. Italian law can't force her to do so, though she could be found in contempt of court if she doesn't show up. There are no penalties for being in contempt, however.
• And if she's convicted? It's unclear what would happen next, though her lawyer yesterday said such a ruling could prompt Italy to seek her extradition. The US would then have to decide whether it will comply. Alternatively, the two countries could work out a deal that would allow Knox to stay in the US.
• How her lawyers reacted: They looked "grim," noted the AP.
• How Knox reacted: In a statement, she called the move "painful." She described prosecutors' theory on her role in the murder as "completely unfounded and unfair," and said, "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."

(More Amanda Knox stories.)