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Parents of Convicted Murderer Amanda Knox restart battle in Italy

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | April 19, 2010 at 06:17 am

495 views | 4 Recommendations | 7 comments

Parents of Amanda Knox, Kurt Knox and Edda Mellas, say they are ready for appeals battle in Perugia, Italy

This past weekend defense attorneys for University of Washington student Amanda Knox filed a 209 page appeal for the 22 year old's release from an Italian prison. The document was filed in Perugia on Saturday, two days after prosecutors filed an appeal requesting that Knox's sentence be increased to life in prison.

Knox was convicted and sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, along with her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, this past December.

Amanda's parents, Curt Knox and Edda Mellas, have been fighting on behalf of their daughter for 2 years, and are now refueling for another battle. They recently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, proclaiming their daughter's innocence.

"No parent would leave an innocent daughter locked up in a foreign jail, that just doesn't happen," said Mellas. "We're hopeful her conviction will be totally overturned."
KING 5 News caught up with them as they were preparing to hit the media circuit, to talk to the nation about the appeal filed in Perugia on Saturday, which among other requests, asks for a third party review of forensic evidence.

The Mellas have said that there is new evidence being pit in the documents, which prove that Knox had no motive for the crime, and that there is no physical evidence linking her to it.

Recently an appeal was filed by the prosecution asking that Amanda's sentence be upped from 26 years to life.

Curt Knox said he feels this constitutes harassment of his daughter, and that he and his former wife are gearing up for the pending appeal in the fall. He adds that they have put their lives on hold for Amanda and are willing to do so once more.

Amanda's parents say they are hoping she will come home to them soon, but that they are concerned that an appeals trial will likely happen in Perugia with a jury selected from the area. This is worrisome to them, but they say they have no choice but to stay optimistic. Amanda's mother spoke with her Saturday morning and says Amanda is also trying to stay positive.

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

Barry ORegan

at 06:24 on April 20th, 2010

Boy. hard to believe this girl did it.

Tony del Balzo (not verified)

at 10:33 on June 12th, 2010

No motive, no physical evidence, two separate statements by Rudy G that Knox and Sollecito were not there, forensic evidence that can not be duplicated, no recording of interrogations or beatings, refusal to have evidence reviewed by an outside party, no violent history, no history of interest in same sexed partner, and no interest in knives. Sounds like reasonable doubt to me.

Tony del Balzo (not verified)

at 10:36 on June 12th, 2010

It's time to Flood The Cell again. July 9 is Knox's Birthday. Send her a Birthday greeting at the following address:Amanda Knoxc/o Casa CircondarialeStrada Pievaiola06100 Capanne (PG)ItalyBe civil and resist the temptation to trash Italy.Continue, however, to boycott Italian products