The Hero
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- Jun 29, 2008
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'Thank you for being there for me': Amanda Knox weeps as she lands in Seattle after four years in an Italian prison to start
'Thank you for being there for me': Amanda Knox weeps as she lands in Seattle after four years in an Italian prison to start
Amanda Knox was today waking up in her home city of Seattle for the first time in four years after making an emotional return last night following her dramatic release from an Italian jail.
After being cleared of the murder of English student Meredith Kercher on Monday, Knox touched down at Seattle-Tacoma airport to rapturous applause at just after 5pm local time last night.
Looking shaky and exhausted, Knox made an emotional thank you speech from the airport, addressing all those who stood by her since her murder conviction and saying: 'Thank you for being there for me'.
Looking ahead: Amanda Knox speaks at a press conference at Seattle airport. In an emotional speech she thanked those who had stood by her since her murder conviction
Tearful: Knox appeared shaky and exhausted after her flight back to the U.S. She was freed on Monday after an Italian appeals court threw out her murder conviction for the death of room mate Meredith Kercher
Summoning the courage to speak after her flight touched down, she said: 'Im really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the aeroplane, I felt like it wasnt real.
'Thank you for everyone who has believed in me, who has defended me, who has supported my family.
'I just want my familys the most important thing to me... Thank you for being there for me.'
Her appearance was met with loud applause from those who had waited all day at the airport to see her.
Earlier she held her mother's hand and cried as she appeared for the first time on home soil since her trial at a press conference at the airport.
Holding hands: Knox is comforted by her mother as she begins to cry during the brief news conference shortly after her arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Exhausted: Knox looked tired but hopeful at the press conference, where she was surrounded by family
Close: Knox holds hands with her mother Edda Mellas while her sister Deanna Knox kisses her on the head. Knox said the most important thing to her was her family
She and her family headed home for an intimate celebration at an undisclosed location, with a party believed to have been organised because she never properly got to celebrate her 21st birthday.
The 24-year-old had served four years of a 26-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2009 of the brutal sex murder of Meredith, 21, who was found semi naked with her throat cut in her bedroom of the house the girls shared in Perugia, Italy.
Amanda Knox enjoyed a menu of smoked salmon and trout roulade, beef with rosti potatoes and chicken kiev with tomato and artichoke sauce, as she flew home in luxury today - a stark contrast to her 1,427 days in an Italian jail.
The freed 24-year-old was also offered complimentary champagne as she made her way across the Atlantic on board flight BA 49, bound for Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
A steward stood in front of one of the business class sections on the upper deck of the aircraft to stop reporters speaking to Knox.
Passengers were told they could not enter 'on the captain's orders'.
He added that the in-flight entertainment included a rolling news channel, on which Knox was the main story.
Keir Simmons, an ITV News reporter, tweeted: 'On flight with Amanda Knox. She's stayed on the top deck of the plane but family say she will hold a news conference at airport in Seattle.'
Knox has been planning her home-coming celebration in detail since the early days of her incarceration, drawing up an exhaustive list of things she wants to do now she is finally free.
Notes from the diary that detectives encouraged her to keep reveal the extensive plans she had made, and even the list of 42 guests.
Taking pride of place were maths teacher, mother and stepfather, Chris Mellas, her father Curt, a financial executive, and his wife Cassandra, plus her sister Deanna, 22, and stepsisters Ashley, 16, and Delaney, 13, all of whom were at court on Monday and led the cheering.
She now also hopes to be reunited with David Johnsrud, the boyfriend with whom she broke up when they left the University of Washington to travel on exchange programmes, he to China, she to Perugia.
Knox's father, who revealed to MailOnline that he initially thought his daughter had again been found guilty of murder, arrived home at around 6pm yesterday evening in a taxi with family members, not including Amanda or her mother.
Neighbours lined the streets and cheered the family home. Friends poured out of the house to greet them with their two family dogs Jacques and Chase.
Curt Knox refused to reveal where his daughter had gone, but it is thought she was taken to a private location with her mother and some of her closest family and friends.
Curt left his house an hour later, thought to have gone to join the rest of the group.
Speaking outside his home in Seattle, he revealed his daughter wants to enjoy simple pleasures, such as lying on a grassy field, before completing the degree she never got to finish while incarcerated in Italy.
Shes overwhelmed, he told MailOnline. Shes been in prison for almost four years and to be able to get out and just try to get back home and get back here where she grew up and everything was just very overwhelming to her.
The first things [Amanda will do] I think will be some of the simplest things like you know laying down in some grass. Shes been in a concrete prison for four years and the simplest things you take for granted she hasnt had.
'So probably something as simple as that and then shell try to just start re-adjusting, reconnecting with all of her friends and family and stuff like that.
Overwhelming: Knox and her family are surrounded by hundreds of journalists at the press conference at Seattle airport
Hero's welcome: Supporters crowd Seattle airport waiting to welcome Amanda Knox back home
Homecoming: Crowds applauded as the BA flight carrying Amanda Knox touched down in Seattle. Many had waited for hours
Asked about their plans for the evening, Curt said: Its mainly really just be with her family and thats what shes wanted to be doing for four years now. Shes not at her mums house. She needs some space and thats the way its going to be.'
Amanda is now hoping to finish her degree at the University of Washington which was interrupted by her Italian ordeal.
Thats going to be one of her goals, getting her diploma for the university hopefully. Thats probably where shell start. I think this experience is going to possibly change what she wants to do with her life and thats still to be determined from her.
Im not going to say shes enrolling tomorrow by any means but I suspect thats where she is going to finish her degree, yes.
Describing the scene in the courtroom when his daughter regained her freedom, Mr Knox said: The first trial I had to watch Amanda and she slumped when they said youre convicted. So I was watching her and she slumped again, and I went oh no weve screwed it up again and then luckily the attorneys turned around and said its OK.
'So it was kind of just like huge waves of emotion going through that. But it came out the right way and we were able to bring her home.
You know it was really weird in the courtroom,' he added. 'Once they handed down the verdict that she had nothing to do with it we didnt even get a chance to hold her.
So happy to be home: Knox waves while holding back tears of joy this evening
Commotion: Camera crews set up in preparation for the arrival of Amanda Knox at Sea-Tac airport in Seattle from the morning
Amanda Knox received a heros welcome in prison when she returned for the final time before she left to fly home to America.
When she returned to Capanne prison to collect her belongings after dramatically being acquitted by the appeals court, hundreds of fellow inmates cheered from their cells, leaning out of windows and chanting her name.
All the prisoners, 500 or 600 of them, started to greet Amanda from the windows, like soccer stardom, Corrado Maria Daclon, secretary general of the USA Italy Foundation, said.
It's difficult to describe the happiness of them seeing Amanda and greeting her and seeing her free now - yelling, 'Oh, wow, ciao Amanda!' It was really, really incredible emotion.
Daclon told ABC News that as Knox walked through the prisons central square, which is surrounded by prison blocks, inmates leant out of their tiny windows, waving their clothes in the air, like flags.
All the prison was greeting her like a champion, he said.
He added that she was so taken by the greeting, she jumped up and down in the air like a child. She was moved and jumped two times to greet them, he said. She was so touched, you can't imagine.
They just whisked her out of the room so fast so it was really not until we were in Rome where she snuck into the hotel that we were at and we had about five minutes before she had to leave again, so it was a really nice moment.'
When asked what Amanda first said to him after being freed, he said: That she loved us. She pretty much squished the air out of us when we were hugging her and stuff like that. It was really nice.
Describing yesterday as the best day of his life, Mr Knox warned his daughter has a long road to recover emotionally.
He said: Part of the issue being in prison for four years is what is the trauma associated to this and when will it show up, if it even shows up. Shes a strong girl but its been a tough time for her.
Its going to take a long period of time, its really going to be what she needs when she needs it. At some point in time shell probably have some comments and statements but shes going to need some time to get reconnected.
Knox's ex-boyfriend David Johnsrud, who she affectionately called 'DJ', exchanged daily letters with her during some of the time she was in prison and has always maintained her innocence, leaving open the possibility of a reconciliation.
Knox will not, however, be reunited with her beloved pet Labrador Ralphie, her grandmother Elisabeth Huff revealed, because he died while she was in prison.
The American, who is set to make millions in TV, magazine, newspaper and book deals now that she is home, is said to have been anxious as she was taken to the airport police station yesterday morning to sign various forms - even calling her lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova to check everything was fine for her to go through immigration and board the British Airways flight.
She tried her best to stay out of view as she arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, but when the time arrived for her to board the flight she walked happily to the gate, with a broad smile on her face.
Mr Dalla Vedova said: 'I spoke with her briefly. She was a bit worried about going through immigration and although her passport was valid she was still a little anxious as she was held in the airport police station for paperwork procedures.
'She was calm, serene and looking forward to going home and just spending time with her friends and family. She wants to get on with her life.
'She is a clever and intelligent girl who has been through a lot - one day in prison is bad enough but four years is even worse.'
Home sweet home: Wellwishers leave flowers on the doorstep for Amanda Knox at her home in Seattle, which is bedecked with welcome posters
Celebration: Preparations for Knox's homecoming in Seattle. Her family is believed to be organising a party for the 21st she never got to hold
Knox was dressed casually for the long flight in black leggings, grey cardigan and a dark vest top and she was pulling her own large black suitcase as she left the airport police office to join her parents.
But it appears her nightmare may not quite be over.
Shortly after Knox's plane took off, Italian public prosecutor Giuliano Mignini announced his intention to take her case to a third and final appeal and described the decision to free her as a 'massive mistake'.
Appeals judge Claudio Pratillo Hellman will write a report within the next 90 days on why he and the jury came to their decision. This will be poured over by prosecutors to see on what grounds they can launch their appeal - which is unlikely to be heard until next year.
Home at last: Amanda Knox has been reunited with her friends and family in Seattle, but her beloved Labrador Ralphie was not at the homecoming because he died while she was in jail
The panel of judges in Rome will then look at paperwork from the case and decide if there were any mistakes in the application of the law and if the case should be reopened.
Even though Italy could in theory ask for her extradition it is thought unlikely that the U.S. would hand her over.
Meanwhile Raffaele Sollecito, Knox's former boyfriend who was jailed with her and also freed, arrived back home near the southern Italian city of Bari.
He was quoted by Italian news agencies saying he was looking forward to seeing the sea, but he declined to make any appearances after reaching home.
His father Francesco said his son remained stunned by the events. 'He is trying to recover himself,' he said.
Welcome: A sign is posted at a record store in the West Seattle neighbourhood where Knox arrived last night
'He is going around touching things as if he is a child who needs to take back the things of his life, to acquire forgotten elements.'
Corrado Maria Daclon, the secretary general of the Italy-USA Foundation, which has supported Knox throughout her appeal, said: 'Amanda is really very exhausted after spending four years in prison. We hugged each other warmly as she was let out.
'She also asked me to thank the Italian public who have supported her publicly throughout her ordeal.
'She said she could not have coped with being unjustly jailed for four years if it had not been for their support - they gave her strength and always said they believed in her innocence.
He added: 'This has been one of the most serious errors of justice that we have had in our country and we have had many.'
Before leaving the country Knox thanked those Italians 'who shared my suffering and helped me survive with hope', in a letter to the foundation.
Freed: Amanda Knox smiles at other passengers at Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Fiumicino yesterday morning before boarding a flight to Seattle via London
She wrote: 'Those who wrote to me, those who defended me, those who stayed close to me, those who prayed for me. I love you.'
Knox can now look forward to a lucrative future, with million-dollar TV and book deal offers awaiting her at home.
American media companies are thought to be pulling out all the stops to secure the first post-jail interview.
Donald Trump last night suggested that he may help broker a deal. He told CNN that he thinks that Knox has star potential and wants to help her find a way to pay her legal fees.
He said that Knox could 'become a big star and build some dividends' from her prison ordeal in Italy.
The business mogul and reality star, who has been a long time support of Knox added: 'I've been supporting the family. I've been helping the family and will continue to help them.'
Troubled: (From left) Meredith Kercher's mother Arline, brother Lyle and sister Stephanie Kercher give a press conference after the verdict
Confusion over the judge's announcement meant Sky News and several news websites, including Mail Online, briefly reported incorrectly that Knox had been found guilty.
This was corrected just over a minute later when it became apparent that he had said she was guilty of slander before going on to say both Knox and Sollecito were innocent of Meredith's murder.
We apologise for the error and have launched an enquiry to examine our procedures.
It is common practice among newspapers to prepare two versions of an article ahead of a court verdict and these are known as 'set and hold' pieces.
We would like to make it clear that Nick Pisa had no involvement in the decision to publish his set and hold piece on MailOnline.
The quotes were obtained from various parties in the event of either a guilty or not guilty verdict.
Meanwhile, there was a party atmosphere this evening at Knoxs father Curts home in West Seattle.
Neighbours were jubilant and a big cheer was heard from inside the house when Amanda's plane landed.
A 'welcome home' banner was up by the front door, along with balloons on the gateway.
Kristi Colluccio, 51, who was house-sitting with her daughter Nina, 17, said: I'm so incredibly happy for them. I can't wait to talk to them.
'I just hope she [Amanda] can be with her family, recover what she's lost which is immense when she's so young. She has such huge family support, they've all been there her friends. She's so loved it's incredible.'
Curt Knox lives in the wooden and brick house with his wife and Amanda's stepmum Cassandra, 49 and their children Ashley, 16, and Delaney, 13. Amanda's mother lives just a mile away and TV crews and reporters were parked outside both addresses.
Danielle Depew, 24, was visiting her parents who live on Curt Knox's street today. Her younger sister used to play soccer with Amanda's sister.
Danielle went to study in Florence, Italy just after it happened and got a hostile response from some locals.
She told MailOnline: 'I'm very happy for the family and that they can go back to living their lives. It's been a huge stress for them. I hope Amanda finishes with school she was close to being done when this happened. She's a smart kid. I'm sure after a while that's what she'll decide to do. I know teachers at her university continued to send her things to keep up her studies.'
Couple John and Trish Maples, who live down the street, were also delighted for the family. John, 65, said: 'We're really excited for them. I'm happy for the family it's been financially devastating on Curt. They did a lot of fund raising, they used to have garage sales selling furniture and childrens clothing - anything to help the fund to get her out.'
John added: 'I do feel for Meredith's family. I don't feel they have closure yet.'
Meredith's family remain stunned by the verdict and will not stop searching for answers.
Victim: Meredith, 21, was found semi-naked with her throat slashed in a bedroom in the house she shared with Knox and two other women
Her brother Lyle, speaking at a press conference, said the family was still trying to understand how a decision that 'was so certain two years ago has been so emphatically overturned'.
Meredith, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was in Perugia as part of her Leeds University course and had only been in Italy for two months before she was killed in November 2007.
Last night, there had been screams in court as the verdict was delivered.
Knox burst into tears and hugged her parents Curt and Edda Mellas - as just feet away the family of Meredith could only look on in amazement.
At her original trial in December 2009, Knox and computer studies graduate Sollecito were found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively.
Amid the chaos in court Knox was actually found guilty of slandering bar owner Diya 'Patrick' Lumumba who she accused of carrying out the killing.
She was sentenced to three years in jail - but as she had already served four years she was freed immediately.
At the first trial two years ago Knox and Sollecito had been convicted after the court heard they had carried out the crime with the aid of a third man, Ivory Coast drifter Rudy Guede, 24.
The appeal however overturned this and ruled that he carried out on his own but key to the verdict was an independent court ordered report into hotly disputed DNA evidence.
Two forensic professors from Romes La Sapienza University Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Conti had poured scorn on the original police forensic investigation of the crime scene producing a damning conclusion of techniques and methods used.
Amanda Knox is entitled to up to 500,000 euros ($661,950) compensation for her wrongful conviction and imprisonment.
The amount is the maximum that can be paid out by the Italian government for a miscarriage of justice.
But it is not yet known if Knox, and her co-accused Raffaele Sollecito, will apply for the money. Given the sensitivity of the publics perception of Knox, she may be advised not to appear greedy by making an application.
And it is unlikely she will need the cash. One of her first tasks on returning to the U.S. will be to deal with a mountain of lucrative offers for her story that her PR agent has been fielding from publishers, TV stations and film-makers.
Key to the case was a 12in kitchen knife retrieved in Sollecitos flat. The original trial heard that DNA from Meredith was found on the blade and that of Knox on the handle.
Prosecutors confusingly said it was 'not incompatible' with the murder weapon which has never been found while defence teams argued it was too big to have caused the wounds on Merediths throat
In addition the report also said that no blood was found on it and the DNA of Meredith was so low is should be ruled inadmissible in fact there was such a small amount it could not even be retested.
They were also critical of results reached from tests on a clasp from Meredith s bloodied bra which was not collected from the murder scene and analysed until 46 days after Meredith was killed.
To highlight the farcical way police carried
out the investigation the experts showed footage of the way the forensic officers collected the evidence and there was gasps of amazement as more than 50 errors were pointed out.
The team was seen picking up the clasp with dirty gloves instead of tweezers and then placing it in a plastic bag when the recognized international procedure is a paper one.
They were then seen handing it to each other from glove to glove, placing it back on the floor in a different place from where it was found and then picking it up again.
Professors Conti and Vecchiotti said that this also made it highly likely that it had been contaminated and then they also revealed how they had been unable to retest the clasp because it had rotted away after being wrongly kept in the forensic lab in Rome.
'Thank you for being there for me': Amanda Knox weeps as she lands in Seattle after four years in an Italian prison to start
Amanda Knox was today waking up in her home city of Seattle for the first time in four years after making an emotional return last night following her dramatic release from an Italian jail.
After being cleared of the murder of English student Meredith Kercher on Monday, Knox touched down at Seattle-Tacoma airport to rapturous applause at just after 5pm local time last night.
Looking shaky and exhausted, Knox made an emotional thank you speech from the airport, addressing all those who stood by her since her murder conviction and saying: 'Thank you for being there for me'.
Looking ahead: Amanda Knox speaks at a press conference at Seattle airport. In an emotional speech she thanked those who had stood by her since her murder conviction
Tearful: Knox appeared shaky and exhausted after her flight back to the U.S. She was freed on Monday after an Italian appeals court threw out her murder conviction for the death of room mate Meredith Kercher
Summoning the courage to speak after her flight touched down, she said: 'Im really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the aeroplane, I felt like it wasnt real.
'Thank you for everyone who has believed in me, who has defended me, who has supported my family.
'I just want my familys the most important thing to me... Thank you for being there for me.'
Her appearance was met with loud applause from those who had waited all day at the airport to see her.
Earlier she held her mother's hand and cried as she appeared for the first time on home soil since her trial at a press conference at the airport.
Holding hands: Knox is comforted by her mother as she begins to cry during the brief news conference shortly after her arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Exhausted: Knox looked tired but hopeful at the press conference, where she was surrounded by family
Close: Knox holds hands with her mother Edda Mellas while her sister Deanna Knox kisses her on the head. Knox said the most important thing to her was her family
She and her family headed home for an intimate celebration at an undisclosed location, with a party believed to have been organised because she never properly got to celebrate her 21st birthday.
The 24-year-old had served four years of a 26-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2009 of the brutal sex murder of Meredith, 21, who was found semi naked with her throat cut in her bedroom of the house the girls shared in Perugia, Italy.
Amanda Knox enjoyed a menu of smoked salmon and trout roulade, beef with rosti potatoes and chicken kiev with tomato and artichoke sauce, as she flew home in luxury today - a stark contrast to her 1,427 days in an Italian jail.
The freed 24-year-old was also offered complimentary champagne as she made her way across the Atlantic on board flight BA 49, bound for Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
A steward stood in front of one of the business class sections on the upper deck of the aircraft to stop reporters speaking to Knox.
Passengers were told they could not enter 'on the captain's orders'.
He added that the in-flight entertainment included a rolling news channel, on which Knox was the main story.
Keir Simmons, an ITV News reporter, tweeted: 'On flight with Amanda Knox. She's stayed on the top deck of the plane but family say she will hold a news conference at airport in Seattle.'
Knox has been planning her home-coming celebration in detail since the early days of her incarceration, drawing up an exhaustive list of things she wants to do now she is finally free.
Notes from the diary that detectives encouraged her to keep reveal the extensive plans she had made, and even the list of 42 guests.
Taking pride of place were maths teacher, mother and stepfather, Chris Mellas, her father Curt, a financial executive, and his wife Cassandra, plus her sister Deanna, 22, and stepsisters Ashley, 16, and Delaney, 13, all of whom were at court on Monday and led the cheering.
She now also hopes to be reunited with David Johnsrud, the boyfriend with whom she broke up when they left the University of Washington to travel on exchange programmes, he to China, she to Perugia.
Knox's father, who revealed to MailOnline that he initially thought his daughter had again been found guilty of murder, arrived home at around 6pm yesterday evening in a taxi with family members, not including Amanda or her mother.
Neighbours lined the streets and cheered the family home. Friends poured out of the house to greet them with their two family dogs Jacques and Chase.
Curt Knox refused to reveal where his daughter had gone, but it is thought she was taken to a private location with her mother and some of her closest family and friends.
Curt left his house an hour later, thought to have gone to join the rest of the group.
Speaking outside his home in Seattle, he revealed his daughter wants to enjoy simple pleasures, such as lying on a grassy field, before completing the degree she never got to finish while incarcerated in Italy.
Shes overwhelmed, he told MailOnline. Shes been in prison for almost four years and to be able to get out and just try to get back home and get back here where she grew up and everything was just very overwhelming to her.
The first things [Amanda will do] I think will be some of the simplest things like you know laying down in some grass. Shes been in a concrete prison for four years and the simplest things you take for granted she hasnt had.
'So probably something as simple as that and then shell try to just start re-adjusting, reconnecting with all of her friends and family and stuff like that.
Overwhelming: Knox and her family are surrounded by hundreds of journalists at the press conference at Seattle airport
Hero's welcome: Supporters crowd Seattle airport waiting to welcome Amanda Knox back home
Homecoming: Crowds applauded as the BA flight carrying Amanda Knox touched down in Seattle. Many had waited for hours
Asked about their plans for the evening, Curt said: Its mainly really just be with her family and thats what shes wanted to be doing for four years now. Shes not at her mums house. She needs some space and thats the way its going to be.'
Amanda is now hoping to finish her degree at the University of Washington which was interrupted by her Italian ordeal.
Thats going to be one of her goals, getting her diploma for the university hopefully. Thats probably where shell start. I think this experience is going to possibly change what she wants to do with her life and thats still to be determined from her.
Im not going to say shes enrolling tomorrow by any means but I suspect thats where she is going to finish her degree, yes.
Describing the scene in the courtroom when his daughter regained her freedom, Mr Knox said: The first trial I had to watch Amanda and she slumped when they said youre convicted. So I was watching her and she slumped again, and I went oh no weve screwed it up again and then luckily the attorneys turned around and said its OK.
'So it was kind of just like huge waves of emotion going through that. But it came out the right way and we were able to bring her home.
You know it was really weird in the courtroom,' he added. 'Once they handed down the verdict that she had nothing to do with it we didnt even get a chance to hold her.
So happy to be home: Knox waves while holding back tears of joy this evening
Commotion: Camera crews set up in preparation for the arrival of Amanda Knox at Sea-Tac airport in Seattle from the morning
Amanda Knox received a heros welcome in prison when she returned for the final time before she left to fly home to America.
When she returned to Capanne prison to collect her belongings after dramatically being acquitted by the appeals court, hundreds of fellow inmates cheered from their cells, leaning out of windows and chanting her name.
All the prisoners, 500 or 600 of them, started to greet Amanda from the windows, like soccer stardom, Corrado Maria Daclon, secretary general of the USA Italy Foundation, said.
It's difficult to describe the happiness of them seeing Amanda and greeting her and seeing her free now - yelling, 'Oh, wow, ciao Amanda!' It was really, really incredible emotion.
Daclon told ABC News that as Knox walked through the prisons central square, which is surrounded by prison blocks, inmates leant out of their tiny windows, waving their clothes in the air, like flags.
All the prison was greeting her like a champion, he said.
He added that she was so taken by the greeting, she jumped up and down in the air like a child. She was moved and jumped two times to greet them, he said. She was so touched, you can't imagine.
They just whisked her out of the room so fast so it was really not until we were in Rome where she snuck into the hotel that we were at and we had about five minutes before she had to leave again, so it was a really nice moment.'
When asked what Amanda first said to him after being freed, he said: That she loved us. She pretty much squished the air out of us when we were hugging her and stuff like that. It was really nice.
Describing yesterday as the best day of his life, Mr Knox warned his daughter has a long road to recover emotionally.
He said: Part of the issue being in prison for four years is what is the trauma associated to this and when will it show up, if it even shows up. Shes a strong girl but its been a tough time for her.
Its going to take a long period of time, its really going to be what she needs when she needs it. At some point in time shell probably have some comments and statements but shes going to need some time to get reconnected.
Knox's ex-boyfriend David Johnsrud, who she affectionately called 'DJ', exchanged daily letters with her during some of the time she was in prison and has always maintained her innocence, leaving open the possibility of a reconciliation.
Knox will not, however, be reunited with her beloved pet Labrador Ralphie, her grandmother Elisabeth Huff revealed, because he died while she was in prison.
The American, who is set to make millions in TV, magazine, newspaper and book deals now that she is home, is said to have been anxious as she was taken to the airport police station yesterday morning to sign various forms - even calling her lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova to check everything was fine for her to go through immigration and board the British Airways flight.
She tried her best to stay out of view as she arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, but when the time arrived for her to board the flight she walked happily to the gate, with a broad smile on her face.
Mr Dalla Vedova said: 'I spoke with her briefly. She was a bit worried about going through immigration and although her passport was valid she was still a little anxious as she was held in the airport police station for paperwork procedures.
'She was calm, serene and looking forward to going home and just spending time with her friends and family. She wants to get on with her life.
'She is a clever and intelligent girl who has been through a lot - one day in prison is bad enough but four years is even worse.'
Home sweet home: Wellwishers leave flowers on the doorstep for Amanda Knox at her home in Seattle, which is bedecked with welcome posters
Celebration: Preparations for Knox's homecoming in Seattle. Her family is believed to be organising a party for the 21st she never got to hold
Knox was dressed casually for the long flight in black leggings, grey cardigan and a dark vest top and she was pulling her own large black suitcase as she left the airport police office to join her parents.
But it appears her nightmare may not quite be over.
Shortly after Knox's plane took off, Italian public prosecutor Giuliano Mignini announced his intention to take her case to a third and final appeal and described the decision to free her as a 'massive mistake'.
Appeals judge Claudio Pratillo Hellman will write a report within the next 90 days on why he and the jury came to their decision. This will be poured over by prosecutors to see on what grounds they can launch their appeal - which is unlikely to be heard until next year.
Home at last: Amanda Knox has been reunited with her friends and family in Seattle, but her beloved Labrador Ralphie was not at the homecoming because he died while she was in jail
The panel of judges in Rome will then look at paperwork from the case and decide if there were any mistakes in the application of the law and if the case should be reopened.
Even though Italy could in theory ask for her extradition it is thought unlikely that the U.S. would hand her over.
Meanwhile Raffaele Sollecito, Knox's former boyfriend who was jailed with her and also freed, arrived back home near the southern Italian city of Bari.
He was quoted by Italian news agencies saying he was looking forward to seeing the sea, but he declined to make any appearances after reaching home.
His father Francesco said his son remained stunned by the events. 'He is trying to recover himself,' he said.
Welcome: A sign is posted at a record store in the West Seattle neighbourhood where Knox arrived last night
'He is going around touching things as if he is a child who needs to take back the things of his life, to acquire forgotten elements.'
Corrado Maria Daclon, the secretary general of the Italy-USA Foundation, which has supported Knox throughout her appeal, said: 'Amanda is really very exhausted after spending four years in prison. We hugged each other warmly as she was let out.
'She also asked me to thank the Italian public who have supported her publicly throughout her ordeal.
'She said she could not have coped with being unjustly jailed for four years if it had not been for their support - they gave her strength and always said they believed in her innocence.
He added: 'This has been one of the most serious errors of justice that we have had in our country and we have had many.'
Before leaving the country Knox thanked those Italians 'who shared my suffering and helped me survive with hope', in a letter to the foundation.
Freed: Amanda Knox smiles at other passengers at Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Fiumicino yesterday morning before boarding a flight to Seattle via London
She wrote: 'Those who wrote to me, those who defended me, those who stayed close to me, those who prayed for me. I love you.'
Knox can now look forward to a lucrative future, with million-dollar TV and book deal offers awaiting her at home.
American media companies are thought to be pulling out all the stops to secure the first post-jail interview.
Donald Trump last night suggested that he may help broker a deal. He told CNN that he thinks that Knox has star potential and wants to help her find a way to pay her legal fees.
He said that Knox could 'become a big star and build some dividends' from her prison ordeal in Italy.
The business mogul and reality star, who has been a long time support of Knox added: 'I've been supporting the family. I've been helping the family and will continue to help them.'
Troubled: (From left) Meredith Kercher's mother Arline, brother Lyle and sister Stephanie Kercher give a press conference after the verdict
Confusion over the judge's announcement meant Sky News and several news websites, including Mail Online, briefly reported incorrectly that Knox had been found guilty.
This was corrected just over a minute later when it became apparent that he had said she was guilty of slander before going on to say both Knox and Sollecito were innocent of Meredith's murder.
We apologise for the error and have launched an enquiry to examine our procedures.
It is common practice among newspapers to prepare two versions of an article ahead of a court verdict and these are known as 'set and hold' pieces.
We would like to make it clear that Nick Pisa had no involvement in the decision to publish his set and hold piece on MailOnline.
The quotes were obtained from various parties in the event of either a guilty or not guilty verdict.
Meanwhile, there was a party atmosphere this evening at Knoxs father Curts home in West Seattle.
Neighbours were jubilant and a big cheer was heard from inside the house when Amanda's plane landed.
A 'welcome home' banner was up by the front door, along with balloons on the gateway.
Kristi Colluccio, 51, who was house-sitting with her daughter Nina, 17, said: I'm so incredibly happy for them. I can't wait to talk to them.
'I just hope she [Amanda] can be with her family, recover what she's lost which is immense when she's so young. She has such huge family support, they've all been there her friends. She's so loved it's incredible.'
Curt Knox lives in the wooden and brick house with his wife and Amanda's stepmum Cassandra, 49 and their children Ashley, 16, and Delaney, 13. Amanda's mother lives just a mile away and TV crews and reporters were parked outside both addresses.
Danielle Depew, 24, was visiting her parents who live on Curt Knox's street today. Her younger sister used to play soccer with Amanda's sister.
Danielle went to study in Florence, Italy just after it happened and got a hostile response from some locals.
She told MailOnline: 'I'm very happy for the family and that they can go back to living their lives. It's been a huge stress for them. I hope Amanda finishes with school she was close to being done when this happened. She's a smart kid. I'm sure after a while that's what she'll decide to do. I know teachers at her university continued to send her things to keep up her studies.'
Couple John and Trish Maples, who live down the street, were also delighted for the family. John, 65, said: 'We're really excited for them. I'm happy for the family it's been financially devastating on Curt. They did a lot of fund raising, they used to have garage sales selling furniture and childrens clothing - anything to help the fund to get her out.'
John added: 'I do feel for Meredith's family. I don't feel they have closure yet.'
Meredith's family remain stunned by the verdict and will not stop searching for answers.
Victim: Meredith, 21, was found semi-naked with her throat slashed in a bedroom in the house she shared with Knox and two other women
Her brother Lyle, speaking at a press conference, said the family was still trying to understand how a decision that 'was so certain two years ago has been so emphatically overturned'.
Meredith, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was in Perugia as part of her Leeds University course and had only been in Italy for two months before she was killed in November 2007.
Last night, there had been screams in court as the verdict was delivered.
Knox burst into tears and hugged her parents Curt and Edda Mellas - as just feet away the family of Meredith could only look on in amazement.
At her original trial in December 2009, Knox and computer studies graduate Sollecito were found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively.
Amid the chaos in court Knox was actually found guilty of slandering bar owner Diya 'Patrick' Lumumba who she accused of carrying out the killing.
She was sentenced to three years in jail - but as she had already served four years she was freed immediately.
At the first trial two years ago Knox and Sollecito had been convicted after the court heard they had carried out the crime with the aid of a third man, Ivory Coast drifter Rudy Guede, 24.
The appeal however overturned this and ruled that he carried out on his own but key to the verdict was an independent court ordered report into hotly disputed DNA evidence.
Two forensic professors from Romes La Sapienza University Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Conti had poured scorn on the original police forensic investigation of the crime scene producing a damning conclusion of techniques and methods used.
Amanda Knox is entitled to up to 500,000 euros ($661,950) compensation for her wrongful conviction and imprisonment.
The amount is the maximum that can be paid out by the Italian government for a miscarriage of justice.
But it is not yet known if Knox, and her co-accused Raffaele Sollecito, will apply for the money. Given the sensitivity of the publics perception of Knox, she may be advised not to appear greedy by making an application.
And it is unlikely she will need the cash. One of her first tasks on returning to the U.S. will be to deal with a mountain of lucrative offers for her story that her PR agent has been fielding from publishers, TV stations and film-makers.
Key to the case was a 12in kitchen knife retrieved in Sollecitos flat. The original trial heard that DNA from Meredith was found on the blade and that of Knox on the handle.
Prosecutors confusingly said it was 'not incompatible' with the murder weapon which has never been found while defence teams argued it was too big to have caused the wounds on Merediths throat
In addition the report also said that no blood was found on it and the DNA of Meredith was so low is should be ruled inadmissible in fact there was such a small amount it could not even be retested.
They were also critical of results reached from tests on a clasp from Meredith s bloodied bra which was not collected from the murder scene and analysed until 46 days after Meredith was killed.
To highlight the farcical way police carried
out the investigation the experts showed footage of the way the forensic officers collected the evidence and there was gasps of amazement as more than 50 errors were pointed out.
The team was seen picking up the clasp with dirty gloves instead of tweezers and then placing it in a plastic bag when the recognized international procedure is a paper one.
They were then seen handing it to each other from glove to glove, placing it back on the floor in a different place from where it was found and then picking it up again.
Professors Conti and Vecchiotti said that this also made it highly likely that it had been contaminated and then they also revealed how they had been unable to retest the clasp because it had rotted away after being wrongly kept in the forensic lab in Rome.