Amanda Knox acquittal on appeal challenged by Italian prosecutors

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter

Amanda Knox arrives for an appeal hearing at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Stefano Medici

(CBS/AP) MILAN - Italian prosecutors are challenging the acquittal of Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend in the slaying of British student Meredith Kercher.

PICTURES: Amanda Knox not guilty of murder
PICTURES: Amanda Knox Personal Photos

Perugia prosecutors filed an appeal with Italy's highest criminal court on Tuesday, more than four months after an appeals court threw out murder convictions against Knox, 24, and Raffaele Sollecito, 27.

Prosecutors Giovanni Galati said he is "very convinced" that Sollecito and Knox are responsible for the Nov. 1, 2007, stabbing death of Kercher, a 21-year-old who shared an apartment with Knox in the university town of Perugia.

The prosecutors appeal was expected and marks the third and final stage in the criminal case against Knox and Sollecito.

Luca Maori, Sollecito's lawyer, said the high court is expected to issue its decision toward the end of the year. The high court cannot hear new evidence, and will make its decision based on what has been submitted in earlier trials.

The two were found guilty in a lower court of slaying Kercher in what prosecutors described as a sex-fueled attack, and sentenced to 26 years and 25 years respectively. An appeals court then said the evidence did not hold up, freeing Knox to return home to the United States after serving four years in prison. Sollecito lives in Italy.

A third defendant, Ivory Coast-born drifter Rudy Guede, was convicted in a separate trial of sexually assaulting and stabbing Kercher. His 16-year sentence, reduced in appeal from an initial 30 years, was upheld by Italy's highest court in 2010.

Complete coverage of Amanda Knox on Crimesider

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Amanda Knox not guilty of murder

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by serraxl February 15, 2012 3:19 PM EST

I think Amanda Knox killed her roommate.

I'm glad the prosecutors are asking for a review of the acquittal. If she does write a book it would be nice to see the proceeds awarded to the family of the murder victim.

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by johnwinters96 February 16, 2012 11:17 AM EST: Tosh. Your kind of vicious thinking will be put to bed once and for all by the outcome of this, the very last stage of a dreadful miscarriage of justice.


by Stacyhs July 29, 2012 7:19 PM EDT: "I think Amanda Knox killed her roommate."

Based on what? The DNA, fingerprints, bloody shoeprints she left in Meredith's bedroom? Oh wait...that was Rudy Guede who left that..and more...evidence. There is not a single piece of physical evidence that ties Knox to Meredith's murder.

by sanfran1 February 14, 2012 10:41 PM EST

May the family of Meredith Kercher find the truth behind their daughter's horrible murder.

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by Stacyhs July 29, 2012 7:20 PM EDT: I agree. Perhaps one day they'll be able to accept that Rudy Guede, and he alone, killed Meredith.


by IEtOut February 14, 2012 8:52 PM EST: I'm just happy to see more pictures of Amanda.; Reply to this comment


by johnwinters96 February 14, 2012 5:53 PM EST: This is an outrage! This man Galati should be investigated. I am sure he is unfit to hold such a high position of authority and responsibility in the Italian judiciary. I will be writing to my MP.; Reply to this comment