American student Amanda Knox has been cleared of all murder charges and is now seeking millions of dollars in compensation from the Italian government.
In what is believed to be the end of an eight-year legal struggle, Amanda Knox has been acquitted of all charges related to the brutal murder of Meredith Kercher.
In November 2007, British Kercher was found half naked and stabbed to death in the home she shared with the American Knox. The prime suspects of the case were Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollcito.
Since that time the couple has been tried, found guilty, and freed on appeal. Then they were arrested, tried, and found guilty again before finally being cleared of all charges on Friday. In total, they each have spent four years in jail.
Amanda Knox heard the news while at her mother’s house in Seattle. Overjoyed, she screamed with delight. She tried to remain poised while giving a brief statement to reporters.
““I’m still absorbing the present moment, which is full of joy,” said Knox with tears streaming down her face. “I’m grateful to have my life back.”
Her ability to maintain a sense of decorum was short lived. Friends delivered bottles of champagne to the Knox residence and fireworks were set off at a nearby seafood restaurant.
Half a world away in Surrey, England, the family of the victim were much more somber. Meredith’s mother, Arline Kercher, gave a short answer to reporters’ questions.
“They have been convicted twice so it’s a bit odd that it should change now,” said Kercher. She was “surprised and very shocked” at the court’s final decision.
It is now unlikely that the grieving family will ever discover what really happened to their daughter.
One of the defense lawyers has confirmed reports that Knox would “be seeking compensation for wrongful imprisonment.” Such compensation for long prison stays usually amounts to seven digit figures.
The father of the boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, has also said that their family would be seeking compensation.
“You could hardly quantify a compensation figure, it has been such an awful business. We were pilloried,” said Francesco Sollecito, a doctor.
The 31-year-old son was in shock when he heard the news that he was free of all charges
“Is it really over?” he asked over and over again.
Although the mystery remains unsolved, the case is unlikely to ever return to an Italian court.
