Knox goes free. Court rules for innocence as mob shouts "Assassina!"

Alfred Kola

Perugia, Italy - It's all over for Amanda Knox. She is free to go home after being acquited of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher. After 11 hours of deliberations the eight-member jury read the verdict "Not guilty!" as she collapsed into her lawyer's arms sobbing. The verdict rapidly became a cause for celebration in the U.S. The court also acquitted Sollecito of the same charges, leaving both free to walk out of the court room. Outside the courthouse, however, Perugians who had gathered to await the decision began booing and protesting the verdict. As the jury finished reading the verdict, the mob  became outraged and shouted "Assassina! Assassina!" (Murderer! Murderer!).

"She was there at the scene of crime, how can they just reduce her sentence from 26 years to zero?," asked student Filomena Orlando, 23, who was in the crowd.

The case of Amanda Knox has been tainted with uncertainties and pressure by the US media and many believe that last night's verdict was not justice, but a deal to disperse the feeling of distrust and bias. There was a feeling of resentment over the treatment in the American media of the Italian justice system.

Many Italians have bristled at being judged by the land of O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony; in the closing arguments, one lawyer for the prosecution called attention to the fact that at least Knox didn't face the death penalty.

The family of Meredith Kercher said they still believe Amanda Knox took part in her murder and are in no mood to think about forgiveness.

"I think Meredith has been hugely forgotten," said Kercher's sister, Stephanie, sitting alongside her mother Arline and brother Lyle.

Arline Kercher cited a line in a story she read about the murder saying, "I think it happened to Meredith because she was all that they weren't."