Amanda Knox reconvicted of slander in Italy after accusing boss of killing roommate | Salon.com
Thirteen hours ago, Amanda Knox was reconvicted for slander by a court in Florence. Knox, previously acquitted of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, faced this new verdict years after her initial convictions and subsequent exonerations.
Legal Battles Resurface for Amanda Knox
Amanda Knox, now 36, arrived at the Florence courthouse with her husband and lawyer. This new conviction pertains to her false accusations against local bar owner Patrick Lumumba during her initial police interrogations. Knox had already served four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher before being acquitted. Despite this, her slander conviction was quashed last year, prompting a retrial that led to her recent reconviction.
Knox’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the latest verdict. They expressed Knox’s disappointment, noting her desire to clear her name after enduring prolonged legal ordeals. Speaking to the court on Wednesday, Knox recounted her coerced confession, stating, “The police threatened me with 30 years in prison, an officer slapped me three times saying ‘Remember, remember’.”
She expressed regret, adding, “I’m very sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to withstand the pressure from the police. I never wanted to slander Patrick. He was my friend, he took care of me and consoled me for the loss of my friend Meredith.”
Patrick Lumumba, who was wrongfully implicated by Knox, spent two weeks in jail before being released without charges. His arrest, however, significantly damaged his reputation, leading to job loss and the seizure of his bar. Lumumba eventually relocated to Poland due to the fallout from the case.
Meredith Kercher Case’s Lingering Impact
The hearing was held behind closed doors, with no audio or video recordings allowed. The original trial, which captivated global media attention, involved the murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. Both Kercher and Knox were language exchange students in Perugia at the time. Kercher was found dead in their shared house, having been sexually assaulted and killed.
The prosecution’s narrative suggested Kercher was the victim of a drug-fueled sex game gone wrong, leading to the conviction of Knox, her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and a third individual, Rudy Guede, in 2009. Knox was also convicted of slandering Lumumba in 2011. However, doubts over forensic evidence led to Knox and Sollecito’s acquittal in 2011, after which Knox returned to the US.
The pair’s convictions were briefly reinstated in 2014 before being permanently overturned in 2015. Knox, now an advocate for criminal justice reform and a mother of two, has since spoken about her experiences, including at a wrongful conviction conference in Italy five years ago.
Guede, the only person whose conviction for Kercher’s murder was upheld, was linked to the crime scene by DNA evidence. He was released early in 2021. The case and its aftermath have had lasting effects on all involved, including Lumumba, whose lawyer highlighted the personal and professional damages he endured.
Amanda Knox’s ordeal continues to draw attention, with her life and legal battles remaining subjects of public interest, including a Netflix documentary and her memoir detailing her prison experience.
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