Regardless of an Italian court's decision on whether to extradite American Amanda Knox for her 2009 murder conviction, the United States may not be inclined to send Knox back.
Due to the overwhelming media presence, Judge Gennaro Marasca on Wednesday delayed a ruling that would either uphold convictions of Knox and ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, or send the case back to the appeal stage. Marasca will hear from Sollecito's defense team on Friday before rendering a verdict.
Knox and Sollecito were initially absolved from murdering 21-year-old Meredith Kercher in 2011. Last year, Italy's Supreme Court overturned their acquittals and convicted the former lovers after a retrial. If convicted, official can pounce on Sollecito since he still resides in Italy.
Extraditing Knox, however, may be difficult for Italian officials.
Under a U.S. - Italy extradition treaty established in 1983, individuals charged or convicted of a crime cane be sent from one country to another. What complicates the Knox case is a double-jeopardy clause built in to the agreement.
"Extradition shall not be granted when the person sought has been convicted, acquitted or pardoned, or has served the sentence imposed, by the Requested Party for the same acts for which extradition is requested," the treaty states under Section V.
Italy and the U.S. wouldn't want a case - even a case as high-profile as Knox's - to hinder diplomatic relations. In relation to past extraditions, all of Italy's previous requests involved U.S. intelligence and military officials. This case not only lacks government influence thus far, U.S. officials may not be convinced the prosecution presented legitimate evidence.
DNA experts have called evidence against Knox and Sollecito "incredulous" and "made up." Some argue that DNA found is circumstantial because Knox and Kercher lived in the same apartment and shared the knife used to cut Kercher's throat.
Knox's acquittal sent shockwaves through Italy, especially among Italians who believe her guilty. To many, watching her get away again would be devastating.
"It will be seen as an injustice," said Italian journalist Corriere Della Sera in speaking with CNN. "You may not see people out on the streets, but if you ask 10 people what they think, those 10 people will tell you they see it as a complete injustice that only the Italian and the African (Rudy Guede) are in prison. The Italians will say that the American gets away with murder and it won't be the first time."
Knox - who returned to the U.S. shortly after her release - was Kercher's roommates while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy and maintained her innocence throughout the trial and four-year prison stint.
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