Monday, October 3, 2011

Freedom: Amanda Knox heads back to the U.S

By Nick Pisa, David Jones and Paul Bentley

Last updated on 4th October 2011
Going home: Knox is driven away from prison after serving four years for murder

Free: Amanda Knox leaves Perugia's court in a car after hearing the verdict overturning her murder conviction
Amanda Knox is today on her way back to the U.S. after an appeal court sensationally cleared her of murdering Meredith Kercher.
Staring ahead towards a lucrative future of million-dollar TV and book deals, Knox was spotted yesterday evening being driven away from Capanne Prison outside Perugia, four years after she was convicted of murder.
She is thought to have been reunited with her family in Perugia for the night before flying in the morning back to their home in Seattle.
Earlier her closest relatives had cried with joy and hugged in court as an Italian judge told her the prosecution had failed to prove she and her boyfriend killed 21-year-old British student Meredith.
Going home: Knox is driven away from prison after serving four years for murder

Free: Amanda Knox leaves Perugia's court in a car after hearing the verdict overturning her murder conviction
Stunned: Knox was quickly taken from the court room following the judge's verdictCleared: Amanda Knox bursts into tears after she was sensationally cleared of the murder of Meredith Kercher
There were screams in court as Knox burst into tears and hugged her parents Curt and Edda Mellas - as just feet away the family of Meredith Kercher could only look on in amazement.
Meanwhile, as the 24-year-old was escorted away a near riot erupted on the streets outside the courthouse in Perugia.
Her victorious defence team were surrounded by the mob who yelled: ‘Shame! Assassins! Justice has been sold down the river!’ Hundreds had gathered to await the verdict, the majority convinced she and Raffaele Sollecito, 27, were guilty.

Cleared: Amanda Knox bursts into tears after she was sensationally cleared of the murder of Meredith Kercher

Life-changing: Knox has already served four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher
Life-changing: Knox has already served four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher
Disbelief: Knox weeps following the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British room mate Meredith Kercher
Disbelief: Knox weeps following the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British room mate Meredith Kercher
Overwhelmed: Knox is dragged away in tears after the sensational appeal verdict
Overwhelmed: Knox is dragged away in tears after the sensational appeal verdict

KEY DATES IN THE CONVICTION OF AMANDA KNOX

Nov 2, 2007: Body of Meredith Kercher is found in Perugia apartment. Investigators say she was killed the night before.
Nov 6, 2007: Knox is arrested with then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and Diya 'Patrick' Lumumba, Congolese owner of pub where Knox occasionally worked.
Nov 20, 2007: Lumumba, implicated by Knox statements to police, is released from jail for lack of evidence.
Dec 6, 2007: Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede is extradited from Germany, where he was arrested, and jailed upon arrival in Italy.
Dec 14, 2007: Meredith is laid to rest after funeral in London.
Oct 28, 2008: Judge indicts Knox and Sollecito on murder and sexual assault charges. Guede, who was granted a fast-track trial, is convicted of murder and sexual assault and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Jan 16, 2009: Trial of Knox and Sollecito opens in Perugia.
Jun 12, 2009: Knox takes stand; tells court she was shocked by Meredith's death, offers alibi and says police beat her into making false statements.
Dec 4, 2009: Court finds Knox guilty of murder and sexual assault; sentences her to 26 years in prison. Sollecito is convicted of same charges and sentenced to 25 years.
Dec 22, 2009: Appeals court upholds Guede conviction and cuts sentence to 16 years.
Nov 8, 2010: Judge orders Knox to stand trial on slander charges for claiming police beating.
Nov 24, 2010: Appeals trial for Knox and Sollecito opens in Perugia.
Dec 16, 2010: Italy's highest criminal court upholds Guede's conviction and 16-year prison sentence.
June 29, 2011: Independent forensic report ordered by appeals court finds much of the DNA evidence used to convict Knox and Sollecito is unreliable.
October 3, 2011: Knox and Sollecito are freed after appeals court overturns conviction for murder.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2044585/Amanda-Knox-verdict-Freed-appeal-court-overturns-murder-conviction.html#ixzz1ZmwwxET8


Posting source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2044585/Amanda-Knox-verdict-Freed-appeal-court-overturns-murder-conviction.html

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