Amanda Knox not guilty of murder

Italy's highest criminal court on March 26, 2013 overturned Amanda Knox's acquittal in the slaying of her British roommate and ordered a new trial. The Court of Cassation ruled that an appeals court in Florence must re-hear the case against the American student and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, for the murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. Kercher's body was found in November 2007 in her bedroom of the house she shared with Knox and others in Perugia, an Italian university town where the two women were exchange students. Her throat had been slashed. Prosecutors alleged Kercher was the victim of a drug-fueled sex game gone awry. Knox and Sollecito denied wrongdoing and said they weren't even in the apartment that night, although they acknowledged they had smoked marijuana and their memories were clouded. An Ivory Coast man, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the slaying in a separate proceeding and is serving a 16-year sentence. Knox and Sollecito were also initially convicted of the murder and given long prison sentences, but were then acquitted on appeal and released in 2011. The high court's ruling on March 26, 2013 overturned the appeals court acquittals. It is unclear what would happen if Knox, now 25, is convicted in a new appeals trial. In this Oct. 3, 2011 photo, Amanda Knox cries as she walks away following the verdict that overturned her conviction and acquitted her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court in Italy.

Amanda Knox in tears after hearing the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Italian lawyer lawyer Maria Del Grosso, right, hugs Amanda Knox after the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Amanda Knox in tears as she is taken away after hearing the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Pool — Alessandro Bianchi

Amanda Knox cries as she walks away after hearing the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roomate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, Monday Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Oli Scarff, Pool — AP Photo/Oli Scarff

Raffaele Sollecito smiles after hearing the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits him of murdering his British roomate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, Monday Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni — Antonio Calanni

Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini arrives to the Perugia court, Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Amanda Knox's mother Edda Mellas, center, cries after hearing the verdict that overturns Amanda Knox's conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roomate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, Monday Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito,Pool — Pier Paolo Cito

Lawyers and relatives of Amanda Knox react after the verdict that overturns Knox's conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Amanda Knox's aunt Janet Huff, reacts after the verdict that overturns Amanda's conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson — Elaine Thompson

Supporters of Amanda Knox react as they watch a television news broadcast about her appeal verdict from a hotel suite in downtown Seattle Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Media and people stand in front of the court as they wait for the verdict of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito appeals trial in Perugia, Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Amanda Knox, right, arrives for an appeal hearing at the Perugia court, central Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Stefano Medici — Stefano Medici

From left, Arline, Stephanie and Lyle Kercher, mother, sister and brother of slain British student Meredith, speak to reporters in Perugia, Italy, Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.