Amanda Knox Engaged Amidst Retrial Of Murder Case: Is She Trying To ‘Influence Public Opinion’?

Amanda Knox, the 27-year-old who had gained international attention after being convicted in Italy over the murder of her British roommate in 2007, is reportedly engaged to her childhood friend Colin Sutherland, according to The Christian Times.

As news of her engagement circulates, there has been speculation that Amanda Knox may have planned to get married to sway the opinion of the public amidst the retrial of her murder case.

“Amanda engaged?? PR stunt gearing up for March 26 #Amanda Knox,” wrote Twitter user m.

Another social media user Velvet_Niko commented, “so predictable! I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets pregnant during extradition proceedings to try influence public opinion.”

Regardless of the negativity surrounding her engagement, Knox has yet to publicly speak on her relationship with Sutherland, a musician who moved to Seattle from New York, according to the Seattle Times.

Sutherland is reportedly also 27 years old and has known Amanda Knox since the two were in middle school. Amanda Knox’s recent engagement has come as a surprise to most as next month’s final hearing in the murder case of student Meredith Kercher may result in Knox reportedly having to spend 30 years in prison if she is found guilty, according to Christian Today.

Knox and her ex-boyfriend Rafaelle Sollecito were reportedly convicted or murder and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively, in 2009. However, an Italian appeals court reportedly reversed the decision and acquitted her of the charges, resulting in Knox flying back to the U.S.

Knox has reportedly maintained her innocence since she was initially charged with stabbing and killing her roommate in their apartment in Perugia, Italy.

“I have stated from the beginning of this long ordeal that I am innocent of the accusations against me. I was found innocent by the only court in Italy that retained independent forensic experts to review my case,” Knox said in a statement last year, according to CNN.

She added, “I want to state again today what I have said throughout this process: I am innocent of the accusations against me, and the recent Motivation document does not — and cannot — change the fact of my innocence.”