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    October 04, 2011

Exonerated of Murder, Amanda Knox Leaves Italy

   VOA News
   US Amanda Knox cries as she leaves the court after being acquitted in
   her appeal trial for Meredith Kercher's murder on October 3, 2011 at
   Perugia's court. Photo: AFP
   US Amanda Knox cries as she leaves the court after being acquitted in
   her appeal trial for Meredith Kercher's murder on October 3, 2011 at
   Perugia's court.

   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.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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