An appeal court in Italy has reinstated the convictions of Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of a British woman in 2007.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito during their original trial. Photo: AFP
Student Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death in the flat she shared with Knox in Perugia in 2007.
The pair were convicted and given hefty jail sentences in 2009, before having those verdicts overturned on appeal in 2011, the BBC reports.
Freed after four years in jail, Knox flew home to the United States, while Sollecito resumed his studies.
In March last year, Italy's top appeals court annulled the first appeal verdict and ordered a new appeal to take place in Florence.
Knox, who is currently in the United States, was sentenced to 28 years and six months, while Sollecito was given 25 years.
Knox, who along with Sollecito denied all the charges, did not return to Italy for the case. Sollecitio's lawyer says he was struck dumb after hearing the verdict on television. Lawyers for both have said they will appeal.
Soon after the verdict, Knox issued a statement saying a prejudiced and narrow-minded investigation had led to a perversion of justice and her wrongful conviction.
But the Kercher family lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said there had been justice for Ms Kercher.
"The family have said that they're satisfied with the Italian justice system, which has decided to re-examine this important case involving the loss of the life of their sister and daughter.
"This was the verdict we'd hoped for, because we knew the original verdict was just and balanced."
Ms Kercher's brother and sister, Lyle and Stephanie, were present when the verdict was read out.
