Rome ( CNN ) -- Italian Supreme Court judges have heard the arguments , now they must decide whether to order American Amanda Knox to stand trial for a second time in the death of her former roommate . The judges concluded a hearing into the question early Monday afternoon , and were expected to announce their decision soon . Knox spent four years in jail before an appellate court overturned her murder conviction in the 2007 death of Meredith Kercher . She returned to the United States in 2011 . Prosecutors say that despite the appellate decision , they still believe Knox and her former boyfriend , Raffaele Sollecito , are responsible for the death . `` We are still convinced that they are the co-authors of Meredith 's homicide , '' Italian news agency ANSA quoted Perugia , Italy , prosecutor Giovanni Galati as saying . Knox , who is not in Italy for the hearing , is confident in the Italian legal system and hopes one day to return to Italy as a free woman , her lawyer , Luciano Ghirga , said Monday . If the acquittal is overturned , the case will go back to an appellate court and Knox might have to return to Italy . If she refuses , the Italian government could appeal to the U.S. government for her extradition . But even if it does , Knox still not might end up before an Italian court . U.S. officials might reject such a request because it violates the U.S. legal principle that a criminal defendant ca n't be tried twice on the same allegation , said Joey Jackson , a contributor for HLN 's `` In Session . '' Italy lacks the absolute prohibition present in U.S. law preventing authorities from retrying a criminal defendant who has been acquitted of a charge . `` We have principles that are well-founded within our Constitution , one of which is double jeopardy , '' he said . `` So as a result of that , I think it would be highly objectionable for the United States to surrender someone to another country for which justice has already been administered and meted out . So I do n't think or anticipate that that would happen . '' 2011 : Amanda Knox judge explains murder acquittal . The case began in 2007 , after Knox moved to Perugia to study at the University for Foreigners of Perugia for one year . Knox , then 20 , shared a room with British student Kercher , 21 . That November , Kercher 's semi-naked body was found at the home , with her throat slashed . Police arrested Knox and Sollecito , who was her boyfriend at the time . 2011 : Was Italy fair to Amanda Knox ? Two years later they were convicted of murder , but were cleared when they appealed the verdicts in 2011 . Another man , Ivorian drifter Rudy Guede , was convicted separately of Kercher 's killing . Guede admitted having sexual relations with Kercher but denied killing her . In legal paperwork published in December 2011 , the judge in the case wrote that the jury had cleared the pair of murder for lack of evidence proving they were guilty . Knox 's family said last year the appeal was unwelcome , but no cause for concern . `` The appeal of Amanda 's acquittal by the prosecution was not unexpected as they had indicated from the day of the verdict that they would appeal , '' a family statement in February 2012 said . 2011 : Knox makes emotional return to Seattle . Knox has spent the last year and a half trying to resume a normal life , studying at the University of Washington in Seattle , her hometown . She has written a book on her ordeal , titled `` Waiting to be Heard , '' which will be published next month . Francesco Sollecito , father of Raffaele , told CNN in a phone interview last year that the family was `` not happy about the decision ( to appeal ) . My son is trying to get back to normal life . '' `` We can do very little in this situation , '' he said , but as Italian citizens , they would have to accept the court 's decision . `` We hope that the high court will finally put the words 'the end ' to this story . '' Bed Wedeman reported from Rome ; Ed Payne reported and wrote from Atlanta ; CNN 's Michael Pearson also contributed to this report .
A hearing on retrying Amanda Knox is expected soon . HLN analyst : Even if the Italian court orders a hearing , the U.S. could refuse to extradite Knox . Knox and Raffaele Russo were cleared of killing a British soldier . Sollecito 's father says his daughter has been trying to live a normal life .