Knox Lawyer: Don't jail innocents

Amanda Knox's defence lawyer today urged the judge and jury in her appeal case to "show respect for the victim" but not to jail "two innocents" as he began his summing up.

In a passionate delivery Carlo Dalla Vedova told the court that Knox, 24, had been in jail for "more than 1,000 days" and was still asking herself: "Why don't they believe me?"

The American was convicted in 2009 and given 26 years for the brutal sex murder of Meredith Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey. The 21-year-old was discovered semi-naked and with her throat cut in her bedroom of the house the two women shared while studying in Perugia.

If the conviction is overturned Knox would be freed and allowed to return to the US. Mr Dalla Vedova claimed numerous errors had been made during the police investigation and that Knox's civil rights had been breached by police and prosecutors.

He said the crucial independent report into DNA evidence ordered by appeal judge Claudio Pratillo Hellman had been invaluable and added: "The truth never dies."

Mr Dalla Vedova said: "You must show respect for the poor victim Meredith Kercher and her mother and father but do not make the mistake of putting two innocents in jail. Pain is not a judicial argument."

A verdict is expected either on Saturday or Monday.