Amanda Knox Cleared of Murder Charges by Italian Court

Get the latest on the 27-year-old's trial

By Brett Malec Mar 27, 2015 10:12 PMTags
Amanda Knox Ida Mae Astute/ABC

Good news for Amanda Knox!

The 27-year-old and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were both acquitted of murder charges by an Italian court today, NBC News confirms. The longstanding charges against Knox and Sollecito stem from the 2007 death of Knox's one-time roommate, British student Meredith Kercher. Now, after years of legal proceedings, the murder convictions are overturned and both sentences are annulled. There will be no more appeals in the case.

In response to today's news, Knox shared the following statement:

"Regarding Today's Decision of the Supreme Court of Italy 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. And throughout this ordeal, I have received invaluable support from family, friends, and strangers. To them, I say: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness has sustained me. I only wish that I could thank each and every one of you in person."

Additionally, Knox's family released a statement, sharing: "Regarding Today's Decision of the Supreme Court of Italy We want to express our profound gratitude to all of those who have supported Amanda and our family. Countless people - from world-renowned DNA experts, to former FBI agents, to everyday citizens committed to justice - have spoken about her innocence.

We are thrilled with and grateful for today's decision from the Supreme Court of Italy.

And we are grateful beyond measure for all that so many of you have done for her."

Knox was charged with Kercher's murder in 2009. Knox and Sollecito both appealed from behind bars, and in 2011, the original conviction was overturned after Knox spent four years in an Italian prison.

However, in March 2013, the Italian Supreme Court sent the case back for a third trial in Florence—despite both parties having been convicted and subsequently acquitted of murder in previous trials—and Knox, who was not present for the court proceedings, was found guilty and sentenced to 28 years and six months in jail.

Following the ruling, Knox told Good Morning America that she will "never willingly go back" to Italy, adding, "I'm going to fight this to the very end. It's not right and it's not fair."

In other happy news for Amanda Knox, E! News confirmed just last month that she became engaged to Seattle musician Colin Sutherland.