Amanda Knox Interview: Guilty Verdict Hit Me 'Like A Train'

Guilty Verdict Hit Knox 'Like A Train'

Amanda Knox appeared shaken but determined in her first interview after being convicted of murder for a second time.

Speaking with ABC's Robin Roberts, Knox said the verdict "hit me like a train."

"I did not expect this to happen," Knox said. "I expected so much better from the Italian justice system."

WATCH the entire interview. Story continues below:

Knox was convicted and sentenced Thursday to 28 1/2 years in prison at an appeals court in Florence. Her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was sentenced to 25 years in the same case.

Knox, who could eventually be extradited to Italy, said the verdict was "not fair."

"I will never go willingly back to that place," Knox said. "I'm gonna fight this until the very end. It's not right."

In a statement released by her publicist shortly after the verdict, Knox said that "the evidence and accusatory theory do not justify a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Rather, nothing has changed. There has always been a marked lack of evidence. My family and I have suffered greatly from this wrongful persecution."

Knox's case now goes to the Italian Supreme Court, which is expected to affirm the conviction. Then, the country will likely request Knox's extradition.

The United States could reject the request because Knox was previously found not guilty in 2011 after her initial conviction in 2009 for the murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher. Some legal experts tell Yahoo! News that they expect Knox to be extradited if the conviction is upheld.

The United States' legal concept of double jeopardy means that a person can't be found guilty of a particular crime once they've already been acquitted of it. The Italian legal system has no equivalent to double jeopardy.

Though Knox said she remains committed to fighting for her freedom, she admitted to Roberts that she faces a challenging road ahead.

"I need a lot of help," Knox said. "I can't do this on my own."

Before You Go

Die Zeit (Germany)

World Media Reacts To Amanda Knox Retrial

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