With a murder conviction hanging over her head , it would have been easy for her to hide away . But instead , Amanda Knox has tried to lead a normal life in the US over the past three-and-a-half years . She has graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree in creative writing , penned theater reviews for a weekly paper and become engaged to musician Colin Sutherland . And now , she has been sensationally cleared , alongside her ex-boyfriend , Raffaele Sollecito , of the murder of her former roommate , Meredith Kercher , who was found dead in Italy seven years ago . Surrounded by her father , Curt Knox , mother , Edda Mellas and Mr Sutherland , Knox , 27 , broke down in tears as she addressed the press following Italy 's Supreme Court 's ruling on Friday night . Scroll down for video . Free : Amanda Knox ( seen addressing the media alongside her fiance , Colin Sutherland , left , on Friday after she was sensationally cleared of murder ) has tried to lead a normal life over the past three-and-a-half years . Engaged : She has graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in creative writing and become engaged to Sutherland , a musician . Above , Knox with Sutherland outside her mother 's house on Thursday . Placing her hands over her chest , she said : 'Meredith was my friend and she deserved so much in this life . I am the lucky one . ' The former inmate added that she is 'so grateful to have my life back ' . In December 2009 , Knox and Sollecito were convicted of the brutal murder and sexual assault of Kercher , a British student . They were sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison respectively . However , after they had already served four years in prison , an appeals court in Perugia - where the student was discovered dead - threw out the couple 's conviction and declared them innocent . Knox returned to the US , before another U-turn in the case saw a court in Florence reinstate her original 2009 conviction and increase her sentence to 28-and-a-half years in January 2014 . Freelance work : The former exchange student has spent time with her family and friends over the past three-and-a-half years - and recently started working as a freelance reporter for the West Seattle Herald ( pictured ) Studies : Last year , she completed her studies in creative writing at the University of Washington ( pictured ) Case : Meredith Kercher ( right ) was discovered dead , with her throat slashed , in Perugia , Italy , in November 2007 . Left , Knox , who has always maintained her innocence in the brutal killing , gives a TV interview in 2014 . But on Friday , Italy 's highest court overturned that murder conviction with its final ruling in the seven-year-long case , definitively ending the grueling legal battle waged by Knox and her co-defendant . Mostly left alone by the media in Seattle since her return from Italy , Knox , who says she will never willingly return to the country , completed her studies at the University of Washington last year . The former exchange student has also spent time with her family and friends over the past three-and-a-half years - and recently started working as a freelance reporter for the West Seattle Herald . The paper 's Managing Editor , Ken Robinson , told The Associated Press that Knox has completed pieces on local theater productions for the publication , as well as 'the occasional feature story . ' Relieved : In December 2009 , Knox ( pictured speaking to the press next to her mother , Edda Mellas , right , on Friday ) and Sollecito were convicted of the brutal murder and sexual assault of Kercher , a British student . Overjoyed : However , after they had already served four years in prison , an appeals court in Perugia threw out the couple 's conviction and declared them innocent . Another court reinstated the convictions in 2014 . 'She 's very good . She 's knowledgeable about her subjects she writes well and she gets stuff on deadline , ' Robinson said . 'She 's a local person . We knew that she was interested in writing . ' Knox 's articles have included a review of a production of the David Henry Hwang play 'Chinglish ' and a story about a kidney disease survivor to mark National Kidney Month . She has also written a memoir about her life and her experiences in Italy , which was published in 2013 . She was paid a reported $ 4million for the work . Knox plans to marry Sutherland , a musician who recently moved to Seattle from New York .
Amanda burns , 27 , was reconvicted of Meredith Kercher 's murder in 2009 . Since returning to US from prison in 2011 , she has tried to live normal life . Graduated from University of arts with a creative writing degree . Has also writes theater reviews for Seattle paper and become engaged . On Friday , Knox was sensationally cleared of charges of student Kercher . She broke down in tears as she addressed media following court proceedings .