On March 26 the Italian Supreme Court caught worldwide attention when they called for a retrial of the Amanda Knox case. The Italian judges ruled that Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Rafaelle Sollecito, return to Italy to once again stand trial for the murder of Knox’s roommate, Meredith Kercher.
Knox and Kercher were students studying abroad in the town of Perugia, Italy until Kercher was found brutally murdered on Nov. 2, 2007. Due to the condition she was found in, officials and individuals believed she was killed in a sex game gone wrong.
Rudy Guede, whose DNA was linked to the crime scene, was tried separately, found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
In December of 2009, Guede appealed his case and his sentence was reduced to 16 years.
Knox and Sollecito were also found guilty of murder, Knox was sentenced to 26 years, Sollecito to 25.
Forensic scientists deemed the evidence linking Knox and Sollecito to the murder inadmissible, and after four years in prison, they were released and set free, until now.
“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,” Knox said during an interview with CNN.
The U.S. government’s decision for Knox to return to Italy and attend the retrial is still unmade.
Students on campus had their own take on the trial.
“I think if the U.S. thinks that the first trial was not fair, and would’ve been ruled a mistrial here, then she should go back,” Richard Horton (graduate student, History) said.
“But if it wouldn’t have been a mistrial here then she shouldn’t go back.”
With the U.S. policy of double jeopardy, Knox would not be allowed to be tried again, but the Italian government utilizes a three-tiered court system.
“They already tried her once, they can’t keep making her go through trials until they get the verdict they want,” Kristen Gardner (senior, Geography) said.
While Knox’s family continues to support her, the Kercher family hopes that many will still remember their daughter and the life that was lost from the situation.
“We are never going to be happy about any outcome because we have still lost Meredith, but we obviously support the decision, and hope to get answers from it,” Meredith’s sister, Stephanie Kercher, told Britain’s ITV News.
The Italian Supreme Court is required to issue their reasoning for overturning the decision later this month.
Following the reasoning, both the prosecution and defense teams have 45 days to file their cases.
Sollecito and Knox will most likely face their retrial later this year, or early in 2014.