Amanda Knox's lawyer claims 'she is a victim' as she fights new slander trial in Italy after she falsely accused father-of-two bar owner Patrick Lumumba of killing her roommate Meredith Kercher

Amanda Knox sent 'an innocent man and father of two to jail' a lawyer told a court today after she falsely claimed he was involved in the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

Carlo Pacelli made the dramatic statement about his client Patrick Lumumba, after Knox's trial for slander reopened in the Italian city of Florence almost 20 years after Meredith's murder.

It comes as one of Knox's lawyers fired back, today insisting she 'was a victim' whose rights had been violated'.

Meredith had been found semi naked and with her throat slit in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox in November 2007 in Perugia, and shortly afterwards she claimed Mr Lumumba 'had killed her'.

Her false testimony led to the Congolese bar owner being jailed for two weeks until a Swiss professor contacted police to tell them he had been served by him the night of the murder and he wasn't involved.

Amanda Knox's lawyer claims 'she is a victim' as she fights new slander trial in Italy after she falsely accused father-of-two bar owner Patrick Lumumba of killing her roommate Meredith Kercher (Knox is pictured in June 2018)

Lawyer Carlo Pacelli said Knox's comments had sent his client Patrick Lumumba (pictured), 'an innocent man and father of two to jail' 

Knox falsely claimed Mr Lumumba was involved in the murder of British student Meredith Kercher (pictured) 

At a later trial Knox - who was initially convicted of murdering Meredith but the cleared - was also convicted of slander, sentenced to three years and ordered to pay Mr Lumumba compensation.

But in 2019 she successfully won a court in the European Court of Human Rights arguing her defence rights had been violated by police during the questioning regarding Mr Lumumba.

As a result the Italian Supreme Court ordered a retrial for the slander conviction in October and on Wednesday the trial started but without Knox, who has remained in her native Seattle.

Prosecutor Ettore Squillace Greco called for the conviction to be reinstated as he opted the case arguing that Knox 'knew of Lumumba's innocence and knew that by naming him he had nothing to do with the murder'.

He added:' It was only thanks to a Swiss man, as accurate as the watches the country makes, to clear him as he remembered going to the bar and was able to prove that Mr Lumumba has nothing to do with the murder.'

Mr Lumumba was also not present for the start of the case, although he and Knox are expected to turn up for later dates.

In response Mr Pacelli said:' She sent an innocent man and father of two to jail. He lost his job as a result, and Knox has never apologised for what she said or paid him any compensation.

'Until she mentions his name, no-one had ever heard of my client and the slander was clear for everyone to see in the judicial documents.'

At a later trial Knox - who was initially convicted of murdering Meredith but the cleared - was also convicted of slander, sentenced to three years and ordered to pay Mr Lumumba compensation (Knox is pictured in 2008)

But in 2019 she successfully won a court in the European Court of Human Rights arguing her defence rights had been violated by police during the questioning regarding Mr Lumumba (pictured left in May 2015)

Key to the case is a four page memorandum Knox - who worked in Mr Lumumba's bar - wrote while in custody, in which she said she 'remembered Patrick' killing Meredith but she claims this was written under duress.

She claims she only spoke basic Italian and was not allowed to consult a lawyer or interpreter during her questioning and she also says she was hit by police.

Knox's lawyer Carlo Della Vedova, said of Knox:' She is in the United States, she is busy taking career of her two children, one of whom was born recently.'

When details of the retail were announced Knox had said:'I'm not afraid of returning to Italy to defend myself, I was unprepared 20 years ago but after all these years I'm ready.

'And I want my children to see what it means to fight for the truth.'

Knox, now 36, was cleared of 21-year-old Meredith's murder in 2015, along with her boyfriend from 2007, Raffael Sollecito and the only person convicted was drifter Rudy Guede.

Knox, now 36, was cleared of 21-year-old Meredith's murder in 2015, along with her boyfriend from 2007, Raffael Sollecito and the only person convicted was drifter Rudy Guede

He was released in November 2011 after serving 13 years of a 16 year sentence but is now under investigation for sexually assaulting an ex girlfriend.

In his opening remarks another of Knox's lawyers, Luca Luparia Donati said:' Amanda Knox is a victim, from the violation of her rights to her trial by media.

'She was proclaimed innocent of murdering Meredith Kercher, which she always said she had nothing to do with, and the same must be done for the slander convection, give her justice for an unjust conviction.'

He added:' There was a very serious error, her defence rights were violated, and this is fundamental.

'Italy was condemned at the European Court of Human Rights for psychological torture and my client is a wife and young mother, she wanted to be here but remained with her children.

'Our objective is to give her back serenity.'

The case was adjourned until June 5.