Remember the American student sentenced to 26 years in an Italian jail for killing her roommate in 2007? Amanda Knox delivered a moving plea of her innocence in Italian at today at her appeal after already spending four years in jail for the murder of her roommate Meredith.
The original trial made headlines after Amanda and her relationship with Italian boyfriend (now ex) Raffaele Sollecito were portrayed as free-spirited, lovers who were playing freaky sex games when Meredith was tragically killed. She was received with a lot of suspicion after the murder because of how her carefree behavior was perceived. She was outspoken in defending her reputation at her appeal:
Tearful Amanda Knox today made a dramatic plea for her freedom as she addressed the judge and jury in her appeal trial and told them: ‘I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal.’
Knox, 24, spoke for just over ten minutes and needed to pause frequently for breath, at one point the judge asked her if she wanted to speak sitting down.
But the American, who is fighting to avoid a possible life sentence, turned down his offer and after a gentle encouraging squeeze of her hand from her lawyer Luciano Ghirga she addressed the court.
Speaking in Italian Knox pleaded her innocence for the brutal murder of Meredith Kercher and said: ‘Esteemed people of the court, it has been said many times that I am a person different than what I am.
I am the same person I was four years ago, the same person, the only thing that distinguishes me from four years ago is the four years that I have suffered.
‘In four years I have lost a friend in a brutal and unexplained way. My faith in the police has been betrayed. I have had to face accusations, injustice and suggestions without foundation and I am paying for my life for something that I did not do.’
Reading without notes Knox added dramatically: ‘I am not what they say I am. I am not perverse, violent, disrespectful towards life, people, these things do not apply to me and I have not done the things that have been suggested.
‘I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal. I was not there. I was not present at this crime.’
