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Italy's highest court overturns acquittal of Amanda Knox

ROME — Amanda Knox says an Italian court's verdict overturning her acquittal and ordering a new trial is "painful."

Knox said in a statement through her spokesman, Dave Marriott, it was "painful" that Italy's highest criminal court ruled Tuesday that the case of her former roommate's death must be reheard.

The Seattle native and her Italian ex-boyfriend were accused in the 2007 death of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. Kercher's body was found in her bedroom in the house she shared with Knox and other roommates in Perugia, an Italian university town where the two women were exchange students.

Prosecutors alleged Kercher was the victim of a drug-fueled sex game gone awry. Knox and Raffaele Sollecito denied wrongdoing. An Ivory Coast man, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the slaying in a separate proceeding and is serving a 16-year sentence.

Knox says she and her family will "face this continuing legal battle as we always have."

Italian law cannot compel Knox to return from the U.S. for the new trial.

The appellate court hearing the case could declare her in contempt of court but that carries no additional penalties.

Full statement from Amanda Knox:

“It was painful to receive the news that the Italian Supreme Court decided to send my case back for revision when the prosecution’s theory of my involvement in Meredith’s murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and unfair.  I believe that any questions as to my innocence must be examined by an objective investigation and a capable prosecution.  The prosecution responsible for the many discrepancies in their work must be made to answer for them, for Raffaele’s sake, my sake, and most especially for the sake of Meredith’s family.  Our hearts go out to them.  No matter what happens, my family and I will face this continuing legal battle as we always have, confident in the truth and with our heads held high in the face of wrongful accusations and unreasonable adversity.”