Amanda Knox back in Italian court in slander trial

(CBS/AP) PERUGIA, Italy - Amanda Knox was back in an Italian courtroom Tuesday as the slander trial of the American student convicted of murder opened in Perugia.

The slander case stems from Knox's claims that she was beaten by police, when questioned about the killing of her British roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007. She maintains she was trying to defend herself and never meant to offend or slander anybody.

Dressed in a white shirt and black trousers Tuesday, Knox, who's from Seattle, spoke to confirm that she understood Italian from the trial judge Daniele Cenci for the brief hearing, according to Foxnews.com.

Knox is serving a 26 year prison term for the murder conviction rendered by an Italian jury in Dec. 2009. She denies wrongdoing and her appeals trial is scheduled to resume Saturday in the central Italian town of Perugia.

In the slander case, Knox has claimed she was beaten and put under pressure by police when she was questioned in the aftermath of Kercher's Nov. 1, 2007, slaying. She said police repeatedly called her a "stupid liar."

Police denied misconduct and filed charges saying Knox's comments were slanderous.

Knox's co-defendant is her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of Italy, who was convicted of the same charges and sentenced to 25 years. Sollecito also maintains he is innocent.

Much of Knox's appeal hinges on a review of DNA evidence that is being carried out by independent forensic experts appointed by the court. The evidence was crucial in the first trial, where no clear motive emerged for the brutal killing.

The independent experts, originally scheduled to conclude their review and report to the court this month, are seeking more time.

Kercher was found stabbed to death in the apartment she shared with Knox when they were both foreign students in Perugia.

Complete coverage of Amanda Knox on Crimesider