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Amanda Knox vs Italy: European court accepts rights violation case

The Local Italy
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Amanda Knox vs Italy: European court accepts rights violation case
The European Court of Human Rights has accepted an appeal by Amanda Knox. Photo: Stephen Barashear/AFP

The European Court of Human Rights has accepted a case submitted by Amanda Knox's lawyers over rights violations she allegedly suffered at the hands of Italian authorities during the 2007 investigation into the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

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Knox, who along with ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was cleared of the murder in 2015, claims she was subjected to an unfair trial and mistreatment during questioning - allegations which have never been investigated by the Italian authorities.

The case, put forward by lawyers Luciano Ghirga and Carlo Dalla Vedova, states Knox was not provided with a lawyer or official interpreter during interrogations on November 5th and 6th 2007, even though she only had an elementary grasp of Italian at the time.

The lawyers also allege that Knox, 28, was given inhumane treatment during questioning, including "degrading smacks to the head".

It was during these interrogations that Knox accused local barman, Patrick Lumumba, of Kercher's murder – an accusation for which she was convicted – and later cleared - of slander.

The European Court of Human Rights will now seek more information from the Italian government before the case is brought to trial, a process which could take several years.

“The court's acceptance of the appeal is great news,” Luciano Ghirga told Corriere della Sera. “It's difficult to get cases accepted.”

“I can't say it gives me any satisfaction however, as so much suffering has already been caused,” Ghirga added.

In March 2015, Knox and Sollecito were finally acquitted of the brutal murder of Kercher, who was killed at her student home in Perugia on November 1st 2007, by Italy's Court of Cassation.

It was the end of an eight-year long ordeal which saw the pair condemned for the murder, acquitted once and then finally cleared following a retrial.  

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