No ruling yet: Italy extends Amanda Knox courtroom drama to Friday

Italy’s supreme court has pushed back a ruling on Amanda Knox’s murder conviction to Friday, delaying what may be the final act of an eight-year legal drama that’s captivated a global audience. The court met Wednesday to examine the verdict that found Knox and her ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito guilty of killing British student Meredith Kercher. Judges will either uphold one or both of the murder convictions, or send the entire case back to the appeal stage – which could eventually see the pair acquitted.

We do not expect this to be the last hearing. We hope the court will annul the verdict and send the case back to appeal.

Amanda Knox’s second lawyer Luciano Ghirga

The verdict, which could spark a request for Knox’s extradition from the United States, had initially been expected by the end of the day, but court president Gennaro Marasca said a ruling would not come until Friday to allow the prosecution and defence enough time to present their arguments. Friday’s hearing will give the floor to Sollectio’s defence lawyer Giulia Bongiorno before the judges retire to consider their ruling.

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