Amanda Knox Investigated for Slandering Italian Police

ROME, Italy, Jan. 21, 2010— -- Amanda Knox, the American student sentenced to 26 years in an Italian prison for murdering her roommate, is facing an additional investigation that during her trial she slandered the police who interrogated her, officials said today.

The slander accusation is in response to statements Knox made during her Meredith Kercher was found murdered Nov. 2, 2007 in the cottage the women shared in Perugia, Italy.

Lead prosecutor Giuliano Mignini confirmed that Knox and her legal defense team had been notified of the new judicial development.

Slander is a criminal offense in Italy for which the penalty is a fine and or a prison sentence of between two to six years.

Knox's parents, Curt Knox and Edda Mellas, are also under investigation for slandering police for statements they made to a British paper when referring to what their daughter had said about being mistreated by the police. The suit against the parents was brought by the police, while the case against their daughter was requested by the prosecution.

Curt Knox added, "I feel that this is harassment on a young lady that had just been sentenced to 26 years in prison. I know she is telling the truth and it upsets me about the approach the prosecution continues to take."