Knox jailed 26 years for sex murder

American Amanda Knox was found guilty early Saturday along with her former Italian boyfriend in the 2007 sex murder of her British housemate Meredith Kercher and sent to prison for 26 years.Co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito was imprisoned for 25 years in the sensational trial.Knox, 22, cried out “no, no” and broke into sobs when the judge began reading out the lengthy verdict, while 25-year-old Sollecito’s face was blank.

Judge Giancarlo Massei cited extenuating circumstances for reducing the sentence from the maximum life terms sought by the prosecution.Prosecutors presented DNA and other forensic evidence against Knox, Sollecito and a third person, Rudy Guede of Ivory Coast, who was convicted separately after opting for a “fast-track” trial in exchange for clemency.

The prosecution alleged that the three youths were high on drugs when they tried to engage Kercher, 21, in a sex game that turned violent, leaving her dead with stab wounds to the neck.Knox’s family issued a statement saying they planned to appeal the verdict. “We will continue to fight for her freedom,” the statement said.“We find it difficult to accept this verdict when we know that she is innocent, and that the prosecution has failed to explain why there is no evidence of Amanda in the room where Meredith was so horribly and tragically murdered,” it said.“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,” they added.

Knox’s aunt Janet Huff told CNN: “We are just crushed.”

- AFP