**Updated 12:53 PDT 2011-10-03: Amanda Knox has been acquitted of the crime of murder, aggravated assault and lying to police by an Italian jury, ordered to be released from imprisonment, and required to pay some 22,000 Euros in retribution.
Let this be a lesson to any American teen or young adult who is looking to live or study in another country. Nothing wrong with keeping your nose exceptionally clean outside of the United States–and always…always avoid seedy characters.
Amanda Knox, who was accused, tried and convicted for the 2007 murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, awaits the verdict of an Italian jury who have heard the appeal of Knox and her team of attorneys.
Knox and Kercher were living and studying in Perugia, Itlay. Knox has always maintained her innocence, and stated today that the accusation of her role in the murder of Kercher was was groundless.
The appeal began nearly four years after Knox had been sentenced to 26 years in prison, and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was sentenced to 25 years for being part of the murder.
The 21 year old Kercher was stabbed to death in her bedroom. Because of the crime, the prosecutors painted a very dark picture of Knox, and relied on the emotional fuel of the Kercher family.
The prosecution continued to proclaim a disdain for Knox, her character and stayed close to their original argument as to why she should remain behind bars.
The jury is currently in deliberation, and no verdict is expected before 2pmEDT/11amPDT. Knox is hopeful to be acquitted, and to return home to Seattle with her parents, friends and other family members.
