PERUGIA, Italy - Closing arguments are under way in Perugia, Italy in the murder trial of former University of Washington student Amanda Knox.
"The key to the mystery is in that room," lead prosecutor Giuliano Mignini said, adding that it would be nearly impossible to climb that window and enter without hurting oneself and leaving blood traces on the shattered glass.
Also, he argued, that window was the most exposed of the apartment, making it an unlikely choice for a burglar. Nothing in the room with the broken glass, which belonged to one of Knox's and Kercher's roommates, was reported missing, Mignini noted.
"All of this was done to channel suspicions on a stranger, and divert them from those who had the apartment keys," he said.
The 22-year-old Knox maintains she spent the night of the murder at Sollecito's house in Perugia. The 25-year-old Sollecito has said he was home working at his computer that night. He said he does not remember if Knox spent the whole night with him or just part of it.
A third man, Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year for Kercher's murder in a fast-track trial he was granted at his request. He also denies wrongdoing and is appealing his conviction.
Amanda's parents, Curt Knox and Edda Mellas, sat down with KING 5 in Seattle this morning. They say they are hopeful, but anxious as the end of the trial draws near.
"She knows she's innocent," said Curt Knox. "She's been in prison for two years for something she didn't do. We're just waiting, as well as she, for the words of innocent to come up in court."
Knox's parents worry about the Italian legal system and how the jury may have been influenced by factors other than actual testimony.
"She had nothing to do with this but the character assassination and all of the misreporting that's taken place and the fact that the Italian jury and judges are not sequestered like they are in the United States, it makes everybody anxious," said Curt Knox. "Because you don't know what they've heard really during the court versus while they're outside of court."
Amanda's parents remain hopeful, though. They've even bought a plane ticket for Amanda to use to fly home in early December.
"It's one we hope to get to use," said Amanda's father tearfully. Her mother adds, "We have to be optimistic and we want her to come back with all of us."
Amanda's parents plan on flying to Italy on Thanksgiving Day. The defense will present its closing arguments starting around November 28th. The defense has already claimed there is no evidence that even puts Knox or Sollecito at the scene of the crime.
Prosecutors were expected to formally make their sentencing requests to the eight-member jury Saturday, while a verdict is expected as early as December 4th. Knox and Sollecito could face Italy's stiffest punishment, life imprisonment, if convicted of murder.
Knox and her Italian former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are accused of stabbing her roommate, British student Meredith Kercher, in November 2007 in what began as a sex game. The pair is charged with murder and sexual violence; both Knox and Sollecito have denied any wrongdoing.
In their statements today prosecutors said Knox hated Kercher for saying Knox was promiscuous and not very clean.
Prosecutors insist the evidence proves Knox and Sollecito killed Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher.
Prosecutors also say Knox and Sollecito broke a window in an attempt to make it appear Kercher was killed by a burglar.
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