Amanda Knox Court Hearing News, Update: 27-Year-Old Cleared of Murder Charges
Amanda Knox has once again been acquitted of the murder of the British student Meredith Kercher by Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation on Friday, March 27, 2015.
A report from British publication, Express U.K., said that the 27-year-old former American student and her ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito were cleared of the charges pointing to the eight-year murder case.
"The decision by the supreme Court of Cassation is the final ruling in the case, ending an eight-year legal battle waged by Knox and her ex-boyfriend," the media outlet said.
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Knox later on said in a statement: "I am tremendously relieved and grateful for the decision of the Supreme Court of Italy. The knowledge of my innocence has given me strength in the darkest times of this ordeal. But I have received invaluable support from family, friends and strangers. To them I say thank you from the bottom of my heart."
The Washington-native maintains that she and Meredith were friends.
"Meredith was my friend," she said. "She deserved so much in this life."
"Surprised and very shocked," Meredith's mother, Arline Kercher, was asked if they have any plans to contest the ruling.
"I really don't know at the moment, I haven't got any plans," she said.
According to Express, the reasoning behind the decision given by the country's high court will be disseminated "within 90 days."
Both Sollecito and Knox were imprisoned after Kercher's body was found with 47 separate wounds on November 1, 2007.
The pair was convicted of murder and sexual assault in December 2009. Sollecito was sentenced to 26 years in prison while Knox got 25 years of incarceration.
Four years later, a court in Perugia ruled out the convictions and acquitted them.
Following the acquittal, a court in Florence reopened the case and on Jan. 30 of last year, Knox and Sollecito were sentenced back with higher jail time.
The decision was then recently overturned by the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation.
Rudy Guede, who found guilty in October 2008, remains the only person convicted of the said murder for 16 years of imprisonment.
