Amanda Knox indicted for slandering Italian police in 2007
| Perugia, Italy
An Italian judge on Monday ordered Amanda Knox to stand trial on slander charges for claiming she was beaten by police when questioned in 2007 about her roommate's slaying.
The 23-year-old American maintains she was just trying to defend herself and never meant any offense or to slander anybody, her lawyers said.
Knox had claimed she was beaten by police during questioning over the slaying of Meredith Kercher three years ago. Police have denied misconduct and filed charges saying Knox's comments were slanderous.
The judge issued the indictment ruling after a hearing behind closed-doors in Perugia.
Knox is serving a 26-year prison term after she was convicted of murder and sexual assault in December. She has denied murdering Kercher, a 21-year-old Briton, and her appeal is set to begin Nov. 24.
Curt Knox, Amanda Knox's father, told The Early Show on CBS on Monday that "this is going to be her chance once again to have that wrongful conviction overturned."
