Italian authorities have overturned the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Solicito for the murder of Leeds student Meredith Kercher.

The 21-year-old from Surrey was found dead in her bedroom with her throat slashed in 2007 while on her year abroad in Perugia, Italy. Prosecutors believe she was killed as part of a sex game.

Having initially been found guilty of Kercher’s murder in 2008, the pair was acquitted four years later due to unreliable DNA evidence but prosecutors now argue the court “lost its bearings”.

If convicted, it is expected that Italy will seek to extradite Miss Knox from the U.S.

Knox has released a statement saying: “It was painful to receive the news that the Italian Supreme Court decided to send my case back for revision when the prosecution’s theory of my involvement in Meredith’s murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and unfair.”

She added: “No matter what happens, my family and I will face this continuing legal battle as we always have, confident in the truth and with our heads held high in the face of wrongful accusations and unreasonable adversity.”

Rudy Guede is currently serving a 16-year sentence for the sexual assault and murder of Miss Kercher.

The Italian courts are expected to release their reasoning for the decision later today.

 

Rehema Figueiredo