By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
In what hopefully will become the conclusion of an oppressive years long ordeal, Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, overturned the murder convictions against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.
The news came as somewhat a surprise considering the zeal at which the prosecution fought to ensure the defendants be imprisoned for over two decades. The subsequent court drama and media circuses made it seem an almost foregone conclusion her fate would ultimately rest upon an extradition hearing within the purview of American courts.
We discussed in length the various issues in the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy. (HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE and HERE)
Ahead of the Friday Verdict, Knox’s lawyers said there were errors of “colossal proportions” in the guilty verdicts which were ruled for the second time last January.
After the verdict Knox spoke to reporters outside the Seattle home of her mother, Edda Mellas. She was accompanied by her mother and her fiancé, Colin Sutherland.
She stated “Right now I’m still absorbing what all this means and what comes to mind is my gratitude for the life that’s been given to me,” stating further that she was thankful “for the justice I’ve received and for the support I’ve had from everyone -from my family, from my friends, to strangers … I’m so grateful to have my life back.”
Responding to a question about what she would like to say to the Kercher Family, she stated “Meredith was my friend. She deserved so much in this life. I’m the lucky one.”
Co-defendant Rudy Guede’s conviction remains and he continues his incarceration.
Of course, the Italian legal system rescued itself from a potentially embarrassing situation if it ruled against Knox and had a U.S. District Court refuse extradition, declaring that Italy made Colossal Constitutional Errors and violated the civil rights of Amanda Knox.
By Darren Smith
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