Amanda Knox's three-year sentence was confirmed (albeit already served) for having slandered Patrick Lumumba in the early stages of the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher, involving him in the investigation for which the former Congolese bartender was later acquitted, being completely unrelated result. This was decided by the Court of Assizes of Appeal of Florence.

Also in the courtroom was Knox, who, accompanied by her husband Christopher, had made spontaneous statements before the judges before the chamber: «I never wanted to slander Patrick Lumumba. He was my friend, he cared for me and consoled me for the loss of my friend, Meredith Kercher. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to resist the pressure and that he suffered."

During the initial investigations into the crime of November 1, 2007, Lumumba was arrested and remained in prison unjustly for two weeks because he was "brought up" by Amanda in a memorial . Hence his complaint for slander.

On this point, Knox has always explained that she mentioned her name because she was under pressure during interrogations at the police station. Version confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights which condemned Italy, deeming that Amanda's right of defense had been violated and she was heard by investigators without the presence of a lawyer.

Knox's first conviction for slander had become definitive but after the verdict of the European Court the Cassation, at the request of his defence, applied the new article 628 bis of the code of criminal procedure, annulling the sentence and remitting the documents to the judge of merit called to evaluate whether the memorial written on the morning of 6 November 2007 could "support" the crime. Now the new sentence has arrived.

“I am innocent,” Knox reiterated in her statement before the sentence, explaining that in the hours she spent at the police station in November 2007 she was “scared” and had been “deceived” .

As is known for the Kercher murder, the 36-year-old was definitively acquitted together with her ex-boyfriend and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito.

Lumumba, however, was not present at the hearing. His lawyer, Carlo Pacelli, spoke for him: «Amanda Knox is not a victim but a slanderer» , the lawyer's comment after the sentence.

(Unioneonline)

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