Amanda Knox Trial: Second Appeals Hearing Begins Without Defendant

American student Amanda Knox’s second appeals trial is underway after Italy’s highest court ordered a new trial for Knox and her ex-boyfriend. The court’s decision overturned acquittals in the 2007 slaying of Meredith Kercher. In the ruling, the court offered a harsh assessment of an appeals court acquittal in 2011.

The Court of Cassation said the 2011 acquittal was full of “deficiencies, contradictions and illogical” conclusions.

During Knox’s second appeals trial, the appellate court in Florence is expected to re-examine forensic evidence to determine if Amanda Knox and her boyfriend killed Knox’s former roommate.

Knox, now living in Seattle and attending the University of Washington, will not return to Italy for the trial. While the appellate court can find Knox in contempt of court for not attending the hearings, that charge involves no additional penalties.

Speaking about the second appeals process, Knox’s defense lawyer Luciano Ghirga told reporters: “We refute the idea that because Amanda is not coming, that Amanda is guilty, that Amanda is using a strategy. Amanda always said she was a friend of Meredith’s, Amanda has always respected the Italian justice system.”

Knox and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted in Kercher’s death. After her first trial, Knox served four years of a 26-year sentence. Three of those years behind bars were the result of a slander conviction after Knox falsely accused a Perugia bar owner of murder. The bar owner, Patrick Lumumba, showed up at the trial Monday and issued the following statement: “I say the same thing I said six years ago. I think she is guilty, and that is why she slandered me.”

Lumbumba’s lawyer claims that he is still owed more than 103,000 euros ($139,500) in legal fees.

Amanda Knox’s double appeals process after an acquittal has put the Italian justice system under international scrutiny. In the United States, the college student could not be re-tried because of double jeopardy laws.

With prosecutors refusing to give up on the case, the Amanda Knox trial process could extend well into the foreseeable future. No wonder she didn’t choose to leave college and participate in what could potentially become another lengthy trial.