Amanda Knox has refused to appear in Italy for her murder retrial. Knox and two others were convicted of killing Meredith Kercher in November 2007. After serving four years in prison, her conviction was overturned. She is now expected to return to Italy for her retrial.
Kercher was found dead in the home she shared with Knox. She had more than 40 stab wounds and her throat was slit.
Rudy Guede and Raffaele Sollecito were also convicted in Kercher’s murder. Sollecito’s conviction was overturned. However, like Knox, he is expected to return for retrial. Guede is currently serving a 16 year sentence.
As reported by Reuters , Amanda Knox’s retrial will begin on September 30. However, the 26-year-old has refused to appear .
Knox contends that she was not present when her roommate was killed . She says she is not prepared to revisit the nightmare of being falsely accused:
“I was imprisoned as an innocent person. It’s common sense not to go back.”
In addition to the emotional toll, Knox says she does not have the time or money to return. She is currently attending college in Seattle, Washington.
Knox said her refusal to appear for the retrial is not a display of guilt. Instead, she says it is “an admission of innocence.”
During retrial, the Italian court will determine whether Kercher was killed during an evening of “group sex games.” Authorities speculate that Knox, Sollecito, Guede, and Kercher, were sexually involved.
Knox denies the accusations. She says it is impossible, as she was not home when the crime occurred. Knox also says there is no evidence linking her to the scene.
As reported by CBS News , Knox is terrified of returning to prison. She spent five months rebuilding her life. She says “everything is at stake.”
Although Amanda Knox is frightened, she has faith in Italy’s courts. She believes “people who really care about justice” will clearly see her innocence .
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