Italy’s high court upheld the slander conviction against Amanda Knox on January 24, 2025. Knox, who was previously acquitted in the 2007 murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher, was found guilty of falsely accusing her former boss, Patrick Lumumba, of the crime.
- Amanda Knox's slander conviction upheld by court.
- Knox falsely accused Patrick Lumumba of murder.
- Lumumba spent two weeks in jail due to accusation.
- Knox awarded Innocence Network Impact Award.
- Lumumba expressed satisfaction with court ruling.
- Knox does not face additional jail time.
Knox, now in her thirties, attended a hearing in June 2024 regarding the conviction but was absent during the recent high court session. The court’s decision follows a long legal saga that began with Kercher’s murder in Perugia, Italy.
The case of Amanda Knox has drawn international attention since the murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007. Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were initially convicted of the murder but were acquitted in 2015 after a lengthy legal battle. Knox’s slander conviction stems from her accusation against Lumumba, who was arrested based on her statements and spent two weeks in jail before being released due to insufficient evidence.
Key details of the case include:
- Knox was 20 years old at the time of the accusation.
- She signed two police statements regarding her claims against Lumumba.
- Knox later expressed regret for her false accusation, stating she was in an “existential crisis” during the interrogation.
In 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Knox’s rights were violated during her 2007 interrogation. Despite this, the Florence court upheld the slander conviction in June 2024. Following the high court’s ruling, Knox expressed her feelings on social media, stating it was a “surreal day” and mentioning her recent recognition by the Innocence Network for her advocacy work on wrongful convictions.
Patrick Lumumba, who attended the high court session, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that Knox’s actions had lasting consequences for him. He emphasized that Knox had never apologized for her accusation, which he believes should remain a part of her life.
The ruling by Italy’s high court reinforces the ongoing legal repercussions for Amanda Knox despite her acquittal in the murder case. This complex saga continues to highlight the challenges surrounding wrongful accusations and the impact on the lives of those involved.
