Vietnam crab exportersoft-shell crab exporterVietnamese mud crab export
Find us on Google 📌 View from the pews Start the day smarter ☀️ Get the USA TODAY app
NATION

A look back at Amanda Knox's trial after she was accused of murdering her housemate

April 30, 2013Updated March 24, 2025, 11:13 a.m. ET
Amanda Knox was convicted in 2009 for the murder of her housemate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia, Italy, where they were both students. She was sentenced to 26 years before the conviction was overturned for the first time in October 2011. But on June 5, 2024, an Italian court reconvicted Amanda Knox of slander and handed her a three-year jail sentence in a case related to the murder. The sentence will have no practical impact as it is covered by the time Knox spent in jail before her conviction.
Amanda Knox was convicted in 2009 for the murder of her housemate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia, Italy, where they were both students. She was sentenced to 26 years before the conviction was overturned for the first time in October 2011. But on June 5, 2024, an Italian court reconvicted Amanda Knox of slander and handed her a three-year jail sentence in a case related to the murder. The sentence will have no practical impact as it is covered by the time Knox spent in jail before her conviction.
TIZIANA FABI, AFP/Getty Images
This file picture taken on Sept. 30, 2011, shows Amanda Knox (R), a US national accused of the 2007 murder of her housemate Meredith Kercher, arriving at the court during the resumption of her appeal trial in Perugia. An Italian court on Jan. 30, 2014, convicted US Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito for a second time for the murder of a British student in Perugia in 2007. The court sentenced Knox to 28 years, six months in prison, and Sollecito to 25 years.
This file picture taken on Sept. 30, 2011, shows Amanda Knox (R), a US national accused of the 2007 murder of her housemate Meredith Kercher, arriving at the court during the resumption of her appeal trial in Perugia. An Italian court on Jan. 30, 2014, convicted US Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito for a second time for the murder of a British student in Perugia in 2007. The court sentenced Knox to 28 years, six months in prison, and Sollecito to 25 years.
TIZIANA FABI, AFP/Getty Images
A file picture shows US Amanda Knox in court before the start of a session of her appeal trial in Perugia's courthouse on July 25, 2011. The retrial of Amanda Knox and her former lover for the murder of a British student begins in Florence on September 30, 2013, though she has decided not to attend. US student Knox and her former lover, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, spent four years behind bars for the murder of Meredith Kercher, who was found half-naked in a pool of blood in the house she shared with Knox in 2007, her body riddled with stab wounds. An appeals court overturned their convictions in 2011 and Knox returned to Seattle, but Italy's Supreme Court in March ordered a retrial for them both following an appeal by prosecutors against what they slammed a "superficial ruling."
A file picture shows US Amanda Knox in court before the start of a session of her appeal trial in Perugia's courthouse on July 25, 2011. The retrial of Amanda Knox and her former lover for the murder of a British student begins in Florence on September 30, 2013, though she has decided not to attend. US student Knox and her former lover, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, spent four years behind bars for the murder of Meredith Kercher, who was found half-naked in a pool of blood in the house she shared with Knox in 2007, her body riddled with stab wounds. An appeals court overturned their convictions in 2011 and Knox returned to Seattle, but Italy's Supreme Court in March ordered a retrial for them both following an appeal by prosecutors against what they slammed a "superficial ruling."
ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP/Getty Images
Knox listens during her trial on Dec. 4, 2009.
Knox listens during her trial on Dec. 4, 2009.
File Photo By Tiziana Fabi, AFP/Getty Images
Knox is driven to court at midnight Dec. 5, 2009, to hear the sentence in her trial. Knox and her Italian former boyfriend Sollecito were convicted.
Knox is driven to court at midnight Dec. 5, 2009, to hear the sentence in her trial. Knox and her Italian former boyfriend Sollecito were convicted.
File Photo By Franco Origlia, Getty Images
Knox attends an appeal hearing on Sept. 5, 2011. Her 2009 conviction would be overturned the next month.
Knox attends an appeal hearing on Sept. 5, 2011. Her 2009 conviction would be overturned the next month.
FIle Photo By Giuseppe Bellini, Getty Images
Knox acknowledges her supporters while her mother, Edda Mellas, comforts her on Oct. 4, 2011, after she returns home to Seattle from Rome.
Knox acknowledges her supporters while her mother, Edda Mellas, comforts her on Oct. 4, 2011, after she returns home to Seattle from Rome.
Stephen Brashear, Getty Images
While in prison, Knox says she rebuffed sexual overtures from guards and tried to avoid aggressive and unpredictable fellow prisoners.
While in prison, Knox says she rebuffed sexual overtures from guards and tried to avoid aggressive and unpredictable fellow prisoners.
Scott Eklund, Red Box Pictures, For USA TODAY
At a coffee shop in Seattle, Knox knows there are those who will never believe she is innocent, including her former roommate's family.
At a coffee shop in Seattle, Knox knows there are those who will never believe she is innocent, including her former roommate's family.
Scott Eklund, Red Box Pictures, For USA TODAY
"It matters to me what Meredith's family thinks," Knox says. "It does affect me - me, and the peace that I have inside." With tears in her eyes she says, "I would hope, like, I really hope, that the Kerchers read my book, and they don't have to believe me. I have no right to demand anything of anyone. But I hope they try."
"It matters to me what Meredith's family thinks," Knox says. "It does affect me - me, and the peace that I have inside." With tears in her eyes she says, "I would hope, like, I really hope, that the Kerchers read my book, and they don't have to believe me. I have no right to demand anything of anyone. But I hope they try."
Scott Eklund, Red Box Pictures, For USA TODAY
Featured Weekly Ad