Knox Ruling Based on 'Coincidences': Judge

The reinstatement of Amanda Knox's guilty verdict was based on ... coincidences? According to Alessandro Nencini, a judge involved in the ruling, it hinged on Knox and boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito changing their plans at the last minute, the Independent reports. At 8:15pm on the night of Meredith Kercher's death, "they had different plans; then these were ditched and the occasion [to commit the crime] was created," Nencini told Corriere della Sera. "If Amanda had gone to work she probably wouldn't be here now. There were coincidences and on this we have developed our reasoning. We realize this will be the most controversial part."

In Italy, the press and Sollecito's lawyers also consider it controversial for Nencini to speak out before the court releases its official decision in the next 90 days. Nencini committed a "very serious, indeed unacceptable" act in speaking publicly, Sollecito's lawyers said. But Nencini said two judges and six lay members of the jury were unanimous in their "very tough" decision, the AP reports. "I feel liberated because the moment of the decision is the most difficult," he said. "I also have children, and inflicting a sentence of 25 and 28 years on two young people is emotionally very tough." (More Amanda Knox stories.)