American Student Amanda Knox Makes Tearful Plea for Acquittal of Murdering her British Roommate in Italy (UPDATE: Knox Freed, Appeals Court Jury Acquitts)

American student Amanda Knox made a tearful plea for acquittal today in an Italian court in the murder of her British roommate. Fighting back the tear, Amanda Knox made her final pleas of innocence  to  influence the appeals panel. The appeals verdict is expected later today, Monday evening.

American student Amanda Knox made a tearful plea on Monday to be acquitted of murdering her British roommate during a brutal erotic game, saying she was paying with her life for a crime she did not commit.

“I am the same person I was four years ago,” said Knox, visibly shaking and fighting to hold back tears. “I am not what they say I am,” she said, seeking to rebut prosecution suggestions that she was a manipulative, sex-mad “she-devil.”

“I lost a friend, in the most brutal and inexplicable way possible. My absolute faith in the police authorities was betrayed, I’ve had to face absolutely unfair … and baseless accusations. I am paying with my life for things I did not commit.”

Stay tune later for updates on the verdict …

UPDATE I: Its official … Amanda Knox freed by Appeals Court Jury.

24 year old Amanda Knox is a free woman as she was acquitted by an appeals court jury today. American student Amanda Knox had been convicted by an Italian court for the 2007 murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher.  Knox collapsed in tears following ther verdict. Knox’s ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was also acquitted of murder charges.

The jury had two options to acquit: determining there wasn’t enough evidence to uphold the conviction or that the pair simply didn’t commit the crime. The jury determined the latter, clearing Knox and Sollecito completely.

After briefly returning to prison for a formal discharge, Knox was seen being driven away in a convoy. Rocco Girlanda, an Italian lawmaker who is close to the Knox family, said she planned to leave Italy on Tuesday.

In court, the Kercher family looked on grimly as the verdict was read out by the judge after 11 hours of deliberations by the eight-member jury.