Meredith Kercher's murder: the investigation, the trial and the acquittal - in pictures

2 November 2007: Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito outside the rented house where Meredith Kercher was found dead Photograph: Stefano Medici/AP

2 November 2007: Local papers report the murder of Meredith Kercher Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

2 November 2007: Police at the murder scene Photograph: Matteo Crocchioni/Rex Features

3 November 2007: Police search outside the flat where Meredith Kercher was found dead Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

6 November 2007: Patrick Lumumba is taken into custody by police. He was later released without charge Photograph: Daniele La Monaca/Reuters

6 December 2007: Rudy Guede arrives at Fiumicino airport, Italy. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Meredith Kercher's murder, reduced to 16 years on appeal Photograph: Olycom SPA/Rex Features

6 November 2007: Stephanie, sister of Meredith Kercher, arrives with her mother Arline and father John for a news conference in Perugia Photograph: Daniele la Monaca/Reuters

26 September 2008: Amanda Knox is escorted by penitentiary police officers to Perugia's court at the end of a hearing Photograph: Pier Paolo Cito/AP

16 January 2009: Amanda Knox on the first day of her murder trial at the Perugia courthouse Photograph: Fabio Muzzi/AFP/Getty Images

16 January 2009: Raffaele Sollecito speaks to his lawyer, Giulia Buongiorno Photograph: Daniele La Monaca/Reuters

27 June 2009: Rudy Guede testifies during the appeal hearing of Amanda Knox Photograph: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

5 December 2009: Amanda Knox is driven into court at midnight to hear the verdict of her murder trial Photograph: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

5 December 2009: Amanda Knox leaves the court after being found guilty Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

24 November 2010: Amanda Knox is led away from Perugia's court of appeal by police officers after the first session of her appeal against her murder conviction Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

September 26 2011: In court during an appeal trial session Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

23 September 2011: Amanda Knox gestures during a court session Photograph: Mario Laporta/AFP/Getty Images

27 September 2011: A forensic technician looks at a police video Photograph: Mario Laporta/AFP/Getty Images

27 September 2011: Raffaele Sollecito attends his appeal hearing Photograph: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

2 October 2011: The Casa Circondariale di Perugia prison, where Amanda Knox was held at the time of her appeal hearing Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

3 October 2011: Amanda Knox arrives for the final day of her appeal at the Perugia court Photograph: Antonio Calanni/AP

3 October 2011: Amanda Knox leaves the court in Perugia in tears after winning her appeal against murder conviction Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

3 October 2011: Amanda Knox breaks down in tears after being acquitted of murdering Meredith Kercher Photograph: Pier Paolo Cito/AP

03 October 2011: Amanda Knox leaves court in tears after winning her appeal and being cleared of murder Photograph: Pier Paolo Cito / Pool/EPA

3 October 2011: Lawyer Giulia Bongiorno embraces Raffaele Sollecito, who also won his appeal against murder conviction Photograph: Pool/Getty Images

3 October 2011: A smiling Raffaele Sollecito leaves court after winning his appeal Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

3 October 2011: Amanda Knox's father Curt Knox is hugged by his wife Cassandra after hearing that his daughter won her appeal against her murder conviction Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

3 October 2011: Supporters of Amanda Knox celebrate in a hotel in Seattle, Washington after watching her acquittal on television Photograph: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

3 October 2011: Amanda Knox's mother Edda Mellas, centre, cries in court after hearing that her daughter has been cleared of murder Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images