Early Life and Education of Amanda Knox: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Amanda Knox. From birth to education, explore key events.

Amanda Knox is an American woman who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned in Italy for the 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. She spent nearly four years incarcerated before being definitively acquitted by the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation in 2015. Despite her acquittal on the murder charge, in 2024 an Italian appellate court upheld her slander conviction for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba of the murder. Her case garnered international attention and raised questions about the Italian justice system and media coverage of criminal trials.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Controversies & Scandals

July 9, 1987: Amanda Knox Born

On July 9, 1987, Amanda Marie Knox was born. She is an American author, activist, and journalist who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in Italy for almost four years.

Others born on this day/year

2005: Graduation from Seattle Preparatory School

In 2005, Amanda Knox graduated from the Seattle Preparatory School.

November 6, 2007: Arrest of Knox, Sollecito and Lumumba

On November 6, 2007, police arrested Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito, and Patrick Lumumba. They were taken into custody and charged with the murder of Meredith Kercher.

November 19, 2007: Guede's Skype Conversation

On November 19, 2007, during a Skype conversation with his friend Giacomo Benedetti, Rudy Guede did not initially mention Amanda Knox or Raffaele Sollecito as being in the building on the night of the murder.

2007: Dean's List at University of Washington

In 2007, Amanda Knox made the dean's list at the University of Washington.

2007: Move to Perugia

In 2007, Amanda Knox moved to Perugia, Italy, to study at its universities. She lived in an apartment with Meredith Kercher and two Italian trainee lawyers.

2007: Kercher Murder

In 2007, Meredith Kercher was murdered, and Amanda Knox was later convicted (though later acquitted) of the crime, leading to a slander conviction for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba.

October 2008: Guede Found Guilty

In October 2008, Rudy Guede was found guilty of the sexual assault and murder of Meredith Kercher and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment, later reduced to 16 years.

2009: Trial Begins

In 2009, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito pleaded not guilty at a corte d'assise on charges related to the murder of Meredith Kercher, including murder, sexual assault, simulating a burglary, and theft.

November 2010: Second Grade Trial Begins

In November 2010, the appeal (or second grade) trial of Amanda Knox began, presided over by Judges Claudio Pratillo Hellmann and Massimo Zanetti. The trial involved a review of the DNA evidence.

May 2011: Forensic Results Point to Guede

In May 2011, consultant Greg Hampikian stated that forensic results from the crime scene pointed to Rudy Guede as the killer and to his having acted alone.

October 3, 2011: Knox and Sollecito Found Not Guilty

On October 3, 2011, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were found not guilty of the murder of Meredith Kercher at their appeal trial.

2011: Knox Freed After Second Level Trial

In 2011, Amanda Knox was freed after a second-level trial. However, the legal process continued after she was released.

2011: Return to the United States

In late 2011, after returning to the United States, Amanda Knox completed her degree and worked on a book about her case. She faced attention from paparazzi, and her family incurred debts.

March 26, 2013: Acquittals Set Aside

On March 26, 2013, Italy's highest court, the Supreme Court of Cassation, set aside the acquittals of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito from the Hellmann second level trial, ordering a retrial.

January 30, 2014: Knox and Sollecito Found Guilty in Retrial

On January 30, 2014, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty in their retrial. Judge Nencini presided at the retrial.

March 27, 2015: Exonerated by Italy's Highest Court

On March 27, 2015, Italy's highest court definitively exonerated Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the Meredith Kercher murder case.

September 7, 2015: Report on Acquittal Published

On September 7, 2015, the Court published the report on the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, citing "glaring errors", "investigative amnesia", and "guilty omissions" in the original murder conviction.

2015: Acquittal by Italian Supreme Court

In 2015, Amanda Knox was definitively acquitted by the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation, overturning her previous conviction in the Meredith Kercher murder case.

January 14, 2016: Acquitted of Defamation

On January 14, 2016, Amanda Knox was acquitted of defamation for saying she had been struck by policewomen during interrogation.

January 24, 2019: ECHR Orders Compensation for Knox

On January 24, 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Italy to pay compensation to Amanda Knox for violating her rights in the hours after her arrest in Perugia. The compensation was for not providing her with a lawyer or competent interpreter.

February 29, 2020: Married Christopher Robinson

On February 29, 2020, Amanda Knox married author Christopher Robinson.

December 2020: Guede's Early Release

In December 2020, Rudy Guede was given an early release and authorized to finish his sentence with community service. Amanda Knox publicly voiced her dissatisfaction with this decision.

December 2020: Guede to Complete Term via Community Service

In December 2020, an Italian court ruled that Rudy Guede, who was convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder, could complete his term by doing community service.

October 2021: Birth of first child

In an October 2021 interview with The New York Times, Amanda Knox announced that she had given birth to her first child, a daughter, several months prior.

2022: Reform to Criminal Procedure

In 2022, a reform to the code of criminal procedure enabled Amanda Knox to appeal her conviction for defamation of Patrick Lumumba.

September 2023: Birth of second child

In September 2023, Amanda Knox gave birth to her second child, a son.

October 2023: Retrial Ordered

In October 2023, the Court of Cassation ordered a retrial for Amanda Knox's defamation conviction of Patrick Lumumba, based on the ECHR's ruling.

June 2024: Slander Conviction Upheld

In June 2024, an Italian appellate court upheld Amanda Knox's slander conviction for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba of murdering Meredith Kercher. She was not sentenced to additional prison time.