Perugia awaits Knox appeal verdict
- 13 years ago
The picturesque city of Perugia in Italy - an ancient university town renowned for its art and history.
But the beautiful Umbrian city has also become famous for a less savoury reason - the brutal murder of Briton Meredith Kercher by American student Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Rafaele Solecito four years ago.
With the verdict from their appeal hearing due on Monday, Perugia's residents - along with the world's media - are waiting to find out whether their high-profile convictions will be overturned.
Some, like newspaper vendor Ugo Isidori, are simply eager for the whole saga to end.
(SOUNDBITE)(Italian) NEWSPAPER VENDOR UGO ISIDORI, SAYING:
"I say that it's about time this trial came to end which has really hurt Perugia because Perugia is not the city that it's been portrayed as since the murder which happened four years ago. It's not that city, it's a much better one."
With the case once again dominating headlines, others debated the trial's outcome.
(SOUNDBITE)(Italian) LOCAL RESIDENT OTTAVIAN GRICCO, SAYING:
"There are doubts, especially about the beginning of the investigation, and now 'innocentismo' has been growing. Mostly because the media have insisted on possible mistakes in the early phases of the investigation."
If the guilty verdicts are overturned, both Knox and Sollecito - who were sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively - would be freed immediately.
If her conviction is upheld, Knox will have one more chance to appeal.
Whatever the outcome, Perugians are sure to be discussing the case for many years to come.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
But the beautiful Umbrian city has also become famous for a less savoury reason - the brutal murder of Briton Meredith Kercher by American student Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Rafaele Solecito four years ago.
With the verdict from their appeal hearing due on Monday, Perugia's residents - along with the world's media - are waiting to find out whether their high-profile convictions will be overturned.
Some, like newspaper vendor Ugo Isidori, are simply eager for the whole saga to end.
(SOUNDBITE)(Italian) NEWSPAPER VENDOR UGO ISIDORI, SAYING:
"I say that it's about time this trial came to end which has really hurt Perugia because Perugia is not the city that it's been portrayed as since the murder which happened four years ago. It's not that city, it's a much better one."
With the case once again dominating headlines, others debated the trial's outcome.
(SOUNDBITE)(Italian) LOCAL RESIDENT OTTAVIAN GRICCO, SAYING:
"There are doubts, especially about the beginning of the investigation, and now 'innocentismo' has been growing. Mostly because the media have insisted on possible mistakes in the early phases of the investigation."
If the guilty verdicts are overturned, both Knox and Sollecito - who were sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively - would be freed immediately.
If her conviction is upheld, Knox will have one more chance to appeal.
Whatever the outcome, Perugians are sure to be discussing the case for many years to come.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters