PERUGIA, Italy — Convicted murderer Amanda Knox broke into tears Saturday as she made an emotional address to an appeals court in Italy, saying that she was the innocent victim of an “enormous mistake” and that her life had been “broken” by three years in jail.
In her address to the court, the 23-year-old American reached out for the first time to the family of Meredith Kercher, the British girl she was convicted of killing and sexually assaulting in 2007 when they were roommates on a student exchange program in Perugia.
Knox denied being the “dangerous, diabolical, jealous, uncaring, violent” person described by the prosecution.
Last year, Knox was convicted and sentenced to 26 years in prison. Also convicted of the same charges was Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian who is Knox’s former boyfriend. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Both deny wrongdoing and have appealed the verdict.
“I am innocent. Raffaele is innocent. We did not kill Meredith,” Knox said during her 20-minute address, speaking Italian, and her voice breaking. “It doesn’t do justice to Meredith and her loved ones to take our lives from us.”
Silence fell on the courtroom as Knox started speaking, with her stepfather, Chris Mellas, and her university friend Madison Paxton in attendance. Paxton, who was crying during her friend’s speech, said later she had never been “so proud of anybody in my life.”
Knox had addressed the court in the previous trial but never for as long or as passionately. She said she regretted not being able to fully speak her mind before, saying that words don’t come easily to her and that she has a difficult time standing up for herself.
In the previous trial, Knox had described Kercher as a friend whose death had shocked her. On Saturday, she turned her thoughts to the victim’s family.
“I’m very sorry Meredith is no longer living,” she said. “I too have little sisters, and the idea of their suffering, their loss, terrifies me.”
The proceedings
At the appeals trial, defense attorneys for Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito are seeking a full review of forensic evidence, including disputed DNA evidence that was found on a knife allegedly used in the murder of Meredith Kercher and on the clasp of her bra. They also want new testimony to be heard. The court is expected to rule on these requests Saturday.
