5:49 AM
American college student Amanda Knox boarded an airplane in Italy a free woman Tuesday. She is now enroute to the United States, after a jury in Italy overturned her murder conviction.
Knox collapsed in tears while the courtroom erupted Monday evening, when the court decision was read. Her former Italian boyfriend and co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, also was exonerated and freed from prison.
Knox was appealing her 26-year prison sentence on charges of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in 2007. Court-appointed independent forensic experts said the DNA used to convict Knox was unreliable and possibly contaminated by police.
Kercher's family voiced disbelief at the overturned verdict.
A third suspect, former drug dealer Rudy Guede, received a 30-year prison sentence. He has also pleaded innocent but was not part of Monday's jury decision.
Exonerated of Murder, Amanda Knox Leaves Italy
Exonerated of Murder, Amanda Knox Leaves Italy
Knox collapsed in tears while the courtroom erupted Monday evening, when the court decision was read. Her former Italian boyfriend and co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, also was exonerated and freed from prison.
Knox was appealing her 26-year prison sentence on charges of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in 2007. Court-appointed independent forensic experts said the DNA used to convict Knox was unreliable and possibly contaminated by police.
Kercher's family voiced disbelief at the overturned verdict.
A third suspect, former drug dealer Rudy Guede, received a 30-year prison sentence. He has also pleaded innocent but was not part of Monday's jury decision.