Amanda Knox in Italian Court Facing New Charges

Amanda Knox appeared in public Tuesday for the first time since her murder conviction, returning to court to face slander charges for saying she was beaten by police during questioning over the death of her roommate.

The 22-year-old American sported a shorter haircut and a yellow T-shirt at a preliminary hearing held behind closed doors in a Perugia courthouse. The brief appearance marked the first time she had been seen since December, when she was escorted out of the courtroom in tears moments after hearing the guilty verdict.

Knox has said she was beaten by police during questioning over the 2007 slaying of Meredith Kercher, the 21-year-old Briton who shared an apartment with Knox while studying in Perugia. Police have denied the misconduct and filed slander charges against her.

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Tuesday's hearing was largely devoted to technicalities and quickly adjourned.

"Amanda is doing pretty good," Knox's stepfather, Chris Mellas, told reporters in Perugia, a hill town in central Italy. "She is looking forward actually to being able once again to put forward her side of the case and kind of defend herself."

Knox said in June 2009 testimony that she had been the subject of a "crescendo" of police pressure and that a policewoman hit her twice on the head. She said that behavior led her to accuse an innocent man - the owner of a pub in Perugia where Knox worked - who was arrested as a result of Knox's statements before being later cleared.

Knox's attorney, Luciano Ghirga, said Tuesday that any defendant should be granted the right to defend oneself in court without the risk of facing slander accusations.

Knox has been jailed since shortly after Kercher's body was found on Nov. 2, 2007, in the house the two students shared. After a yearlong trial, Knox was convicted of murder and sexual assault and sentenced to 26 years in jail.

Her ex-boyfriend and co-defendant at the trial, Raffaele Sollecito of Italy, was also convicted and sentenced to 25 years. A third person, Ivorian Rudy Hermann Guede, was convicted of murder in separate proceedings and sentenced to 16 years.

All three deny wrongdoing and are appealing.

In April, Knox's American lawyer told CBS' The Early Show that a lack of physical forensic evidence will influence a new jury if her case is granted an appeal.

Knox's family is pushing to set her free through the appeals process.

[Saint_Michael1]

According to Amanda she was not beaten but rather cuffed a couple times on the back of the head. She stated she was yelled at, threatened with prison, kept awake through the night, screamed at that she was a liar, and slaps on the back of the head. She also stated these slaps did not hurt- only scared her. I am sure it is all true and that the police were very aggresive with her. And now they want to charge her with slander for saying it in court. In most civilized countries one has the right to speak out in their own defence. The slander charge is simply ridiculous, but even if the slander charge does not hold up in court, the result is they are torturing this poor girl mentally and emotionally- and that is no doubt part of the prosecution's plan- I believe Amanda will win eventually- but at what cost.

[NikEst]

I don't really care or know if this girl is innocent. I think the Italians are being a little vindictive here, but if the country has slander laws and they think she violated them, then they have a right to bring her to trial on those laws. Her defense attorney is right, a defendant should defend themselves without having to face slander charges, but if that defense is a lie, then they brought it on themselves. In this country, we call it perjury.

[sheenaah7]

And if Amanda and Raffaele are indeed innocent I do hope they'll get millions $ from the Italian government because now what they're living is slander at its worst.

[sheenaah7]

Yes frankly I have a hard time believing this story of three people sexually assaulting her. It makes so much more sense that the drug dealer saw the apartment when visiting, thought there was some stuff to steal there and came back when he thought there'd be no one and suddenly stumble upon Meredith and rapes and kill her. It actually doesn't make sense at all that Amanda and Raffaele would have taken part in that. Those Italian Jury should stop watching tv and come back on the Earth, anyway even on tv you rarely see such a silly scenario.

[carlhungus]

It was a "rape prank" gone too far because of drugs. Amanda is rumored to have tried a "rape prank" back in Seattle on a U of W dorm-mate using a few guys with big knives & ski masks. In Perugia, Rudy & Raffaele were both eager to please Amanda in her "game" with the roommate she'd grown to despise/ envy (poor Meredith).

[AnnieDanny]

I still can't believe the outrageous story that was presented during the trial. I hope that real justice can prevail eventually. I absolutely believe the victim and her family deserve justice, but I'm not convinced this is it.

[carlhungus]

LIes, a recanted confession, a false accusation of an innocent black man (right out of 'To Kill A Mockingbird"), DNA on one of the murder knives, DNA on the victim's bloody bra clasp, shoeprints in blood, foorprints in blood revealed by luminol, mixed blood, mixed DNA, changing alibis, computer records, phone records, cell tower pings, and 2 years of 'cat & mouse' games between all 3. What more do you want for "evidence"?

[carlhungus]

Meredith Kercher's family, along with all of the other girls that lived in the cottage, are convinced Amanda & her 2 boy-toys are GUILTY.

[tmsaurman]

I don't know that we have heard all of the facts of the case, but I do agree that the Italian court had a severe lack of evidence to even prosecute, let alone convict this girl. I believe that it is anti-american sentiment that convicted this poor girl. As for her boyfriend, well they don't want their italian men dating americans. It is obvious to me that this Rudy character acted alone and then for a plea deal of a lesser sentence says that Amanda and her boyfriend were in on it. I think there should be an international court that tries cases if there are people from another country. Even if we are trying someone for a crime here in the USA, if they are not a US citizen then they should be tried in an international court with a non biased judge, and a mixture of jury members from both countries involved.

[carlhungus]

Amanda's DNA is on the handle of a knife that has the victim's DNA on the blade. The knife belonged to Amanda's boyfriend of 6 days (Raffaele, a collector of knives & rape porn. Raffaele's DNA is on the victim's bra clasp. So is Amanda's DNA. Amanda also left her bloody shoeprint on a pillow case beneath the victim's body. Amanda also left her DNA in a drop of the victim's blood. I'm tired of typing. There's a lot more. Read the 427 page Italian judgment.

[vicktorr]

You better believe it that the Italian police did beat up Amanda Knox. I have lived in Italy for many years because of family ties, and I can confirm again and again that the Italian police are no different than any other law enforcers than anywhere else the world. I could set example on example, but it would go on forever. The Italian court will not allow her to state in front of the magistrates and judges of her beatings because she will be beast up again and/or mistreated. If Amanda sweet talks the Italians, it will only confirm what the police want her to say, that they are sweet and kind people, if she really is able to open up and tell the story of the beatings, she will pay hell on earth. Remember, also, the Italians' are effectively hitting back at America as an excuse that they don't dance to America's music. The Italian judicial system is still in the medieval days as even admitted by themselves. Believe it!.

[carlhungus]

Italy got rid of the death penalty. Many American states still rely on it. Who's "medieval"?

[bankersvox]

This girl is innocent. Why can't our State Dept do something ? She has been the target of crazy anti American zeal.

[goirish1974]

I agree.

[Justme8811]

How can you know she is innocent? Were you at the trial?