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Amanda Knox acquittal greeted with cheers and fireworks in West Seattle Amanda Knox acquittal greeted with cheers and fireworks in West Seattle
(1 day later)
In West Seattle, where Amanda Knox grew up, the news of her acquittal by Italy’s highest court was accompanied by the sound of fireworks echoing across the water.In West Seattle, where Amanda Knox grew up, the news of her acquittal by Italy’s highest court was accompanied by the sound of fireworks echoing across the water.
“I’m just ecstatic,” said Karen Pruett, a long-time friend of the Knox family. “The Italian courts did the right thing. It was very difficult for them, and we understand that, but we’re beyond pleased that they chose justice and truth.” “I’m just ecstatic,” said Karen Pruett, a longtime friend of the Knox family. “The Italian courts did the right thing. It was very difficult for them, and we understand that, but we’re beyond pleased that they chose justice and truth.”
As the sound of cheers and celebrations filtered out to the terrace from the restaurant inside, Pruett said she thought the Knox family were feeling “jubilant and relieved and buoyant,” but also probably exhausted. “It was a long and excruciating and twisted journey,” she said.As the sound of cheers and celebrations filtered out to the terrace from the restaurant inside, Pruett said she thought the Knox family were feeling “jubilant and relieved and buoyant,” but also probably exhausted. “It was a long and excruciating and twisted journey,” she said.
“To say the least”, interruped Al Semple from West Seattle, a longtime Knox supporter who along with Julie Rogers organised the earliest fundraisers for Knox at this restaurant by the bay. “To say the least”, interrupted Al Semple from West Seattle, a longtime Knox supporter who along with Julie Rogers organised the earliest fundraisers for Knox at this restaurant by the bay.
Through her lawyer, Knox gave the Guardian a statement upon learning the news of her acquittal, saying she was “tremendously relieved and grateful”. “The knowledge of my innocence has given me strength in the darkest times of this ordeal. And throughout this ordeal, I have received invaluable support from family, friends, and strangers. To them, I say, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness has sustained me. I only wish that I could thank each and every one of you in person.”Through her lawyer, Knox gave the Guardian a statement upon learning the news of her acquittal, saying she was “tremendously relieved and grateful”. “The knowledge of my innocence has given me strength in the darkest times of this ordeal. And throughout this ordeal, I have received invaluable support from family, friends, and strangers. To them, I say, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness has sustained me. I only wish that I could thank each and every one of you in person.”
Her family expressed “profound gratitude” to those who supported Knox, and said they were “thrilled with and grateful for” the Italian supreme court’s decision.Her family expressed “profound gratitude” to those who supported Knox, and said they were “thrilled with and grateful for” the Italian supreme court’s decision.
Pruett said she hoped the pursuit of justice for Meredith Kercher’s family would continue. “In my opinion,” she told the Guardian, “the case file needs to be reopened and examined carefully, so that the proper information is given to the Kerchers and they get their questions answered.”Pruett said she hoped the pursuit of justice for Meredith Kercher’s family would continue. “In my opinion,” she told the Guardian, “the case file needs to be reopened and examined carefully, so that the proper information is given to the Kerchers and they get their questions answered.”
“Thank God it’s over – they can get on with their lives,” said Candace Dempsey, the author of Murder in Italy, a book about the case, who was also celebrating at the restaurant. “I’m very pleased and very surprised. Usually I’m an optimist, but I was sure this was going against them. I think it’s a brilliant move by Italy. They’ve averted a diplomatic crisis that no one needed. I couldn’t be happier that two innocent people are going free. “Thank God it’s over – they can get on with their lives,” said Candace Dempsey, the author of Murder In Italy, a book about the case, who was also celebrating at the restaurant. “I’m very pleased and very surprised. Usually I’m an optimist, but I was sure this was going against them. I think it’s a brilliant move by Italy. They’ve averted a diplomatic crisis that no one needed. I couldn’t be happier that two innocent people are going free.
“I never thought when I wrote my book that this would happen. I’m so happy.”“I never thought when I wrote my book that this would happen. I’m so happy.”
Dempsey is also hopeful that the online abuse she said she has suffered from those who insisted Knox was guilty will come to an end. “I just hope the ‘guilters’ can go home now, and this tragic saga will be over at last,” she said. “It’s made me an admirer of Italian justice.”Dempsey is also hopeful that the online abuse she said she has suffered from those who insisted Knox was guilty will come to an end. “I just hope the ‘guilters’ can go home now, and this tragic saga will be over at last,” she said. “It’s made me an admirer of Italian justice.”