ROME — Italy’s supreme court upheld a slander conviction against Amanda Knox, an American who accused an innocent man of murdering her British flatmate, Meredith Kercher, nearly 17 years ago. This high-profile case has captivated audiences internationally, drawing contrasting opinions from observers in the U.S. and Europe.
Knox had previously appealed her conviction following a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, which stated that her rights had been infringed upon. During a lengthy interrogation after Kercher’s murder in Perugia, Knox lacked legal representation and a proper translator, contributing to the eventual false accusation against Patrick Lumumba.
In a quiet courtroom, Judge Monica Boni delivered the verdict, while Knox’s defense and Lumumba’s legal teams had exited before the conclusion of deliberations. This decision seemingly culminates a protracted legal saga that has seen Knox and her former Italian boyfriend face varying verdicts over the years regarding their involvement in Kercher’s tragic death. Following extensive appeals, Knox was ultimately acquitted in 2015, only to be reconvicted for slander in June after the recent European court ruling prompted a retrial.
In response to the ruling, Lumumba expressed his contentment with the verdict, stating, “Amanda was wrong. This verdict has to accompany her for the rest of her life.” Meanwhile, Knox’s attorney, Carlo Dalla Vedova, voiced his shock, stating, “We are incredulous. This is totally unexpected and totally unjust for Amanda.”
Knox herself commented on the verdict as “surreal” in a post on social media, stating, “I’ve just been found guilty yet again of a crime I didn’t commit.” She also noted her receipt of the Innocence Network Impact Award, which honors individuals exonerated from wrongful convictions.
On her podcast, Knox reflected on the ongoing consequences she faces due to the wrongful accusation. She mentioned that the slander conviction complicates her ability to obtain visas for certain countries. Her defense maintains that Knox’s wrongful accusation against Lumumba stemmed from coercive police questioning, during which they provided misleading information and denied her the right to legal counsel. The European Court underscored the police failure, emphasizing Knox’s vulnerability as a non-Italian-speaking student.
Now 37 years old, Knox does not face further incarceration since she has already served almost four years related to the investigation and trials. However, she is determined to continue her legal fight to clear her name entirely. After her release in 2011, Knox returned to the U.S. and has since emerged as a prominent advocate for those wrongfully convicted. She hosts a podcast and has a memoir, titled “Free: My Search for Meaning,” on the horizon.
At the time of Kercher’s murder on November 2, 2007, Knox was a 20-year-old studying in Perugia, where Kercher was discovered murdered in their shared apartment. The case sparked international headlines, particularly as authorities focused their scrutiny on Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito. Ultimately, a different individual, Rudy Hermann Guede from the Ivory Coast, was convicted based on DNA evidence collected at the crime scene; he was released in 2021 after serving most of his sentence.
The European court’s finding mandated that Italy compensate Knox for police misconduct, recognizing her as particularly at risk due to her status as a foreigner with limited Italian proficiency. Following this ruling, Italy’s high court authorized a new trial regarding Knox’s slander charge, dismissing two false police statements and instructing the appellate court to consider only a handwritten letter Knox later penned, which attempted to retract her accusation. Nonetheless, the appellate court argued that her memo corroborated a slander charge against her.
Lumumba faced significant repercussions due to Knox’s claims, leading to substantial disruption in his business and eventually prompting him to relocate to Poland with his wife. Upon arriving at the court, he highlighted the lack of an apology from Knox, indicating that he feels she has never acknowledged her wrongdoing.
