Italian court to rule on Amanda Knox acquittal

Amanda Knox is "very anxious" as Italy's top criminal court hears arguments from prosecutors appealing over her acquittal of the murder of her room mate Meredith Kercher, a lawyer has said.

Luciano Ghirga said he had spoken to Knox by phone.

The Court of Cassation is considering prosecutors' submissions that the 2011 acquittals of American Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend over the murder of British student Meredith Kercher should be thrown out and a new trial ordered.

Prosecutors in Italy can appeal over acquittals. In the first trial, Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were convicted of the 2007 murder in the university town of Perugia and given long prison sentences. They were acquitted on appeal and Knox returned to the US.

Defence lawyers argue that the 2011 acquittals were justified.

The court could rule later today.