Amanda Knox Case Update: Meredith Kercher Roommate Getting Celebrity Support Ahead Of Appeals Trial? [PHOTO]
Though no new evidence or arguments can be entered during her final appeals trial in the Spring, Amanda Knox may still be able to count on some of her supporters to try and see if her presumed innocence will prevail.
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Knox, who was convicted of murdering her former roommate Meredith Kercher for a second time earlier this year, may have earned a big celebrity supporter just months ahead of her final appeal going before an Italian court-Virgin Group founder and English businessman Richard Branson.
Branson took to his Twitter account Dec. 18 to make a case for Knox receiving what he calls a fair trial, and linked to the website injusticeinperugia.org, which has aimed to prove that Knox was a victim of the Italian justice system, and has been twice-convicted of a murder she didn't commit.
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Questions need answering in Amanda Knox case, everyone deserves fair treatment & a fair trial https://t.co/wVWAIIcO0V #readbyrichard
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) December 18, 2014
"Questions need answering in Amanda Knox case, everyone deserves fair treatment & a fair trial injusticeinperugia.org #readbyrichard," he tweeted.
The tweet did unleash a flurry of responses from both those who also supported Knox, as well as those who have long been convinced that she and ex-boyfriend Raffale Sollecito are guilty of the horrific 2007 murder in the Perugia, Italy flat Kercher and Knox were sharing with two other girls. Some of the tweets in support of Knox read:
@richardbranson I want her to be innocent! — darlene horn (@steelysgirl) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson part of the problem with Knox getting a fair trail in Italy is civil & criminal cases lumped together — Russell Goodloe (@spynewz007) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson Let's hope the Italians realize they risk much by choosing to ignore those questions & cont. to insist their case has merit. — dopre (@Dopre1) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson Thanks for seeing beyond the hysteria, Sir. — Steve Moore (@Gman_Moore) December 18, 2014
Of course, those who believed she was guilty chimed in as well:
@richardbranson What about the victim #MeredithKercher & her family still waiting for justice. pic.twitter.com/CvAWhqabpR — JeffB (@JeffJeffski1) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson She had a fair trial and was found guilty. Don't listen to her PR lies. — polarpower (@polar_power) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson Why did Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito lie repeatedly to the police? — harryrag (@harryrag) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson I am extremely surprised you would link to this website. It is Meredith who deserves justice. Did you consider her in this? — nentropy (@nentropy) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson no she had a fair trial 3 times. Giving you the benefit of the doubt that you are not just supporting another PR scam .. — Felicity Lowde (@flutterbyfjl) December 18, 2014
@richardbranson Even Knox's own lawyers said her trial was fair. Don't believe them? That's progress. No one else does. @PMFdotNet — Johnny Yen (@_JohnnyYen_) December 18, 2014
The case has divided many over the past seven years, as views have alternated between Knox being considered guilty of the murder, and being seen as an innocent victim herself trapped in a corrupt Italian justice system.
Knox and Sollecito's final appeals case will be heard in March 2015. If the convictions are upheld, Sollecito, who remains in Italy, will immediately begin serving his 25 year sentence. Knox, who resides in the U.S., may be extradited to Italy to serve her own time.