Post date: Sep 23, 2011 10:20:4 AM
Perugia court begins closing arguments for U.S. student Amanda Knox's appeal against her 2007 murder conviction.
PERUGIA, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 23, 2011) REUTERS - Amanda Knox's appeal against her murder conviction enters its final stages on Friday (September 23), with an emboldened defence hoping the American student will walk free after nearly four years in an Italian prison.
Closing arguments in the appeals trial begin on Friday in the university town of Perugia, where Knox was convicted of murdering her British housemate Meredith Kercher in 2007 during a frenzied sex game that spiralled out of control.
Kercher, from Surrey, England, was found lying semi-naked in a pool of blood with her throat slit in her apartment in Perugia, where she was doing a year of overseas study.
An Italian court in 2009 sentenced Seattle native Knox to 26 years in prison and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito to 25 years in jail.
The medieval town of Perugia has greatly suffered from the trial, with a huge fall in numbers of foreign students coming to the university.
"The bad thing about all this story is there are far fewer students coming to Perugia. You can really see it compared to what it was like in 2007, it has nearly halved. This crime meant people are too frightened and are unsure, it has really been a bad thing for Perugia," said bar tender Cinzia Mari.
"I can't say one way or the other what the verdict will be, you hear all kinds of arguments, those that think one is guilty and those that think the other one is guilty. But I do think far too much confusion has been created, I don't think anyone really knows. I just hope the truth comes out but the trial has gone on for too long. In Italy, if you walk into a courtroom you know when the case starts but never when it will finish," she added.
Knox's case for release was bolstered by a forensic report this year saying DNA evidence used in the trial was unreliable and numerous errors had been made by police scientists.
Forensic experts said no evidence supported the original police conclusion that Kercher's blood was found on a knife handled by Knox that was identified as the murder weapon.
A verdict from the appeals trial is expected next week.
If acquitted, both Knox and her ex-boyfriend would be freed immediately. But the pair could also have their sentences confirmed, shortened or lengthened.