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Father 'sure' of Knox's innocence Father 'sure' of Knox's innocence
(about 1 hour later)
The father of a young American woman who is accused of murdering a British student in Italy has said he is convinced his daughter is innocent.The father of a young American woman who is accused of murdering a British student in Italy has said he is convinced his daughter is innocent.
Curt Knox told the BBC Italian police had coerced statements from daughter Amanda, 21, during interrogation.Curt Knox told the BBC Italian police had coerced statements from daughter Amanda, 21, during interrogation.
But Mr Knox said he was also concerned about the impact of prejudicial media coverage on the judge and jury.But Mr Knox said he was also concerned about the impact of prejudicial media coverage on the judge and jury.
Miss Knox denies murdering Meredith Kercher, 21, of south London, as does her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.Miss Knox denies murdering Meredith Kercher, 21, of south London, as does her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.
Mr Knox told BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire show he was "very, very proud" of how his daughter carried herself when giving evidence last week at her trial in Perugia.Mr Knox told BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire show he was "very, very proud" of how his daughter carried herself when giving evidence last week at her trial in Perugia.
FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE More from BBC Radio 5 live
He said: "She was very articulate in how she answered her questions... and that really comes from the fact she knows she is 100% innocent.He said: "She was very articulate in how she answered her questions... and that really comes from the fact she knows she is 100% innocent.
'Coerced''Coerced'
"They [police] coerced a number of statements from her, Amanda began to clarify a number of these things in court."They [police] coerced a number of statements from her, Amanda began to clarify a number of these things in court.
"She told us she was never so terrified in her entire life, by people circling her in an interrogation room and screaming at her.""She told us she was never so terrified in her entire life, by people circling her in an interrogation room and screaming at her."
He said so-far only one side of the story has been told - that of the prosecution - and he was confident that experts for the defence would easily rebut each of the prosecution's claims.He said so-far only one side of the story has been told - that of the prosecution - and he was confident that experts for the defence would easily rebut each of the prosecution's claims.
But Mr Knox also said he was concerned about the length of the trial and the media storm surrounding the case.But Mr Knox also said he was concerned about the length of the trial and the media storm surrounding the case.
He said he hoped the judge and jury would be able to keep the evidence at the front of their minds over such a long period, and not be swayed by prejudicial coverage.He said he hoped the judge and jury would be able to keep the evidence at the front of their minds over such a long period, and not be swayed by prejudicial coverage.
Miss Knox has been criticised for allegedly doing cartwheels in the police station after the killing, but Mr Knox told the BBC this had been taken out of context.Miss Knox has been criticised for allegedly doing cartwheels in the police station after the killing, but Mr Knox told the BBC this had been taken out of context.
He said his daughter does yoga and was a gymnast, and that stretching was something she used to release tension.He said his daughter does yoga and was a gymnast, and that stretching was something she used to release tension.
He said a police officer had noticed her stretching, telling her she was very flexible. She then told the officer about the yoga and gymnastics, and he asked her to show him something, so she did a cartwheel.He said a police officer had noticed her stretching, telling her she was very flexible. She then told the officer about the yoga and gymnastics, and he asked her to show him something, so she did a cartwheel.
"All of a sudden it was blown out of proportion and taken out of context and she was cart-wheeling around a police station," said Mr Knox."All of a sudden it was blown out of proportion and taken out of context and she was cart-wheeling around a police station," said Mr Knox.
He emphasised his confidence in his daughter's innocence, adding that she has said she does not want to come home because she knows she is innocent and wants to prove it.He emphasised his confidence in his daughter's innocence, adding that she has said she does not want to come home because she knows she is innocent and wants to prove it.
Mr Knox said he was convinced only one person was responsible for the murder of the Leeds University student - Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, originally from the Ivory Coast, who has already been sentenced to 30 years for the killing.Mr Knox said he was convinced only one person was responsible for the murder of the Leeds University student - Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, originally from the Ivory Coast, who has already been sentenced to 30 years for the killing.