Amanda Knox: DNA Testing Casts Doubt

Amanda Knox received some good news today, as DNA testing cast doubt on a key piece of evidence. A forensic expert testified that the assumed murder weapon does not contain victim Meredith Kercher’s DNA.

Italian Authorities recovered the knife from the apartment of Knox’s former boyfriend, co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito. The knife contained the DNA of two women. Analysis identified Knox as one of the women and ruled out Kercher as the other. Although Knox did not live with Sollecito, she was a frequent visitor.

As reported by NBC News, the knife was used as key evidence in Knox and Sollecito’s original trial. On December 4, 2009, both defendants were convicted in Kercher’s murder.

Meredith Kercher was found dead on November 2, 2007. She was stabbed 47 times and her throat was cut. In July 2008, Amanda Knox and Sollecito were charged with her murder.

Both defendants maintained their innocence throughout their trial. However, they were both found guilty in December 2009. As reported by CNN, Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison and Sollecito was sentenced to 25.

In October 2011, after spending more than three years in prison, an Italian jury overturned Knox and Sollecito’s convictions. Knox returned to her home in Seattle, Washington.

Less than two years later, the Italian Supreme court ordered the retrial of both defendants. Knox refused to return to Italy for the trial. Her defense team is appearing on her behalf.

As the trial continues, forensic expert Andrea Berti testified that the DNA on the knife was difficult to isolate for testing:

“The amount of DNA was limited, and therefore complex to analyze… [we] used high-performance techniques, and tested it twice. We found two genetic profiles… The trace didn’t show a match with Meredith Kercher.”

Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito continue to maintain their innocence in Kercher’s death. The DNA evidence could help prove their case.

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