Amanda Knox is prepared to fly back to the U.S. today after being dramatically cleared of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.
Amanda Knox, 24, was taken to the airport police station to sign various forms – even anxiously calling her lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova to check everything was fine for her to go through immigration and board the British Airways flight to Seattle via London Heathrow.
Amanda Knox tried her best to stay out of view as she arrived at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and tried to avoid journalists waiting for her outside since dawn.
Carlo Dalla Vedova said:
“I spoke with her briefly. She was a bit worried about going through immigration and although her passport was valid she was still a little anxious as she was held in the airport police station for paperwork procedures.
“She was calm, serene and looking forward to going home and just spending time with her friends and family. She wants to get on with her life.
‘She is a clever and intelligent girl who has been through a lot – one day in prison is bad enough but four years is even worse.”
While waiting for their flight Amanda Knox’s parents were in the VIP lounge at Fiumicino Airport and they were then joined by her who onlookers described was “looking tired and drawn”.
The family had been driven to Rome from Perugia late last night in two black Mercedes one a people carrier which had been provided by the Italo-American Foundation whose president MP Rocco Girlanda had written a book about Amanda Knox in prison and campaigned for her innocence.
Corrado Maria Daclon, a spokesman for the foundation, said:
“Amanda is really very exhausted after spending four years in prison. We hugged each other warmly as she was let out.
“She also asked me to thank the Italian public who have supported her publicly throughout her ordeal.
“She said she could not have coped with being unjustly jailed for four years if it had not been for their support – they gave her strength and always said they believed in her innocence.
“I have remained silent throughout this affair but now someone needs to shoulder the responsibility for what happened.
“This has been one of the most serious errors of justice that we have had in our country and we have had many.”
Amanda Knox’s lawyer also spoke of this and said:
“This case should never have come to court. Will there be an investigation? I doubt it.
“Amanda will now have some time in Seattle and then get on with her life and her family will also want to get back to theirs.”
Before she left Italy, Amanda Knox said she felt “no bitterness” towards the country that had kept her in jail for four years.
Amanda Knox is looking at a lucrative future with million-dollar TV and book deal offers.
But the family of the victim Meredith Kercher, 21, remained stunned by the verdict and searching for answers.
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