Amanda Knox Trial Resumes With DNA Fight

PERUGIA, Italy Sept. 14, 2009— -- An Italian judge today rejected an impassioned plea today by lawyers for Amanda Knox to throw out murder charges against the American student as her trial resumed following a two month summer break.

The trial, which has already lasted for six months, started up again in the Perugia courtroom with arguments over analysis of DNA evidence that prosecutors say implicate Knox and her ex-boyfriend and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito in the throat slashing death of Knox's roommate Meredith Kercher.

Kercher, who is from England, was found stabbed to death in the cottage she shared with Knox in November 2007.

Knox's father told ABC News today that his 22-year-old daughter was "very anxious" for the trial to resume.

"She's hoping that this really is... the home stretch and hopefully they will see what is very clear to me, that she had nothing to do with this and acquit her of this, and we'll get to bring her home," Curt KNox said.

He said the past summer has been a strain. "It's been extremely hot over here. There's no air conditioning and there became an overcrowding issue at the prison, so it was really difficult," the father said. "You're literaly spending two months baking in a concrete oven, knowing that you're there for something that you had no part of."

The charges and the prolonged prison time have taken a toll on Amanda Knox, he said.

"She used to have utter faith in everybody and I can tell you know that she has lost faith in people of responsibility. She was attempting to help the police and it was literally turned on her," Curt Knox said. He later added, "She'll never be the way she really was. But I also think she'll live a really hearty life."

Amanda Knox, who is from Seattle, smiled as she returned to court today wearing a Beatles shirt. It is known that she is a fan of the Beatles.