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Meredith Kercher's family satisfied with original Amanda Knox verdict, sister calls Italian system "quite good"

Meredith Kercher's mother Arline, sister Stephanie and brother Lyle
(From L) Meredith Kercher's mother Arline, sister Stephanie and brother Lyle hold a news conference in Perugia, Italy, on Oct. 3, 2011, ahead of the expected verdict in the appeal of the Amanda Knox murder conviction Getty Images

(CBS/AP) PERUGIA, Italy - The sister of slain British student Meredith Kercher says the family was satisfied with the original conviction in the Amanda Knox trial and believes the Italian justice system is "quite good."

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Stephanie Kercher spoke to reporters as an eight-member jury in Perugia, Italy deliberated the fate of Knox and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito, who are appealing their 2009 murder convictions.

Stephanie Kercher, her mother and brother were in Perugia for the verdict, expected later Monday. At a press conference, Kercher said her sister "has been most forgotten" in the media circus surrounding the high-profile trial.

Kercher said she believes justice will be found if the jurors look at the evidence presented and not the media hype around the trial.

She also said she believes the Italian justice system is "quite good because they proceed in the same way as they do everywhere in that they look for the evidence."

When asked about the independent review of the prosecutors' DNA evidence which two experts for the defense said had glaring errors including possible contamination that raised doubts about whether it could be linked to Knox and Sollecito, the family stated that the jury needs to look at the overall evidence, not one specific thing.

Brother Lyle Kercher told reporters it was "too early to talk about forgiveness."

Knox and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito were convicted in the 2007 stabbing death of Meredith Kercher.  Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison while Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. Also convicted in separate proceedings was Rudy Hermann Guede, an Ivorian man. Knox and Sollecito have denied wrongdoing.

Complete Coverage of Amanda Knox on Crimesider

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