Amanda Knox Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison

According to CNN, an Italian jury has found American student Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito guilty in the stabbing death of British exchange student Meredith Kercher. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison and Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. Additionally, the pair must pay 5 million euro ($7.4 million) to Kercher's family. At the rendering of the verdict, six of the jurors were wearing red, white and green sashes, representing the colors of Italy's flag. Prosecutors argued that Seattle native Amanda Knox was a resentful American who was so angry with her British roommate that she exacted revenge at their home two years ago. They said Knox directed Sollecito and another man, Rudy Guede, to hold Kercher down as Knox played with a knife before slashing Kercher's throat. Prosecutors had been seeking life sentences, Italy's stiffest sentence, for both. Defense lawyers argued that Guede, who was convicted in a separate fast-track trial and is currently appealing his conviction, was the sole killer. On Thursday, Dec. 3, Knox took the stand for a third time in the Perugia courtroom, telling jurors that she is not a "killer" who stabbed her former roommate. "They say that I am calm. I am not calm," Knox said in fluent Italian. "I fear to lose myself, to have the mask of the killer forced upon me. I fear to be defined as someone I am not." Knox and Sollecito have now been jailed for more than two years. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash) publicaly condemned the sentence. "I am saddened by the verdict and I have serious questions about the Italian justice system and whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial," Cantwell said. The senator also believes there was not "enough evidence for an impartial jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Knox was guilty." In addition, she said the trial revealed flaws in the Italian justice system, including the rough treatment Knox says she received from detectives, allowing jurors to read the coverage of the trial, and "negligent handling of evidence by investigators." Cantwell said she made her displeasure known to the Italian embassy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Knox family issued a statement in which they announced, "We are extremely disappointed in the verdict rendered today against our daughter. While we always knew this was a possibility, we find it difficult to accept this verdict when we know that she is innocent." They also stated that, "It appears clear to us that the attacks on Amanda's character in much of the media and by the prosecution had a significant impact on the judges and jurors and apparently overshadowed the lack of evidence in the prosecution's case against her." Knox and Sollecito will appeal, attorneys said. After the verdict, Knox's lawyer, Carlo Della Vedova revealed his client was upset yet remains strong. When asked if he expected the State Department to get involved in his daughter's case, Curt Knox said, "I would be very disappointed if they didn't, very disappointed." The Knox family already has spent more than $1 million in hiring a legal team and keeping a family member in Italy at all times to visit Amanda. When asked how he will pay for an appeal and to keep someone in Italy, Knox said, "We'll figure it out. She will not be left here."