Italy-US relations ‘undamaged’ by Knox conviction

THE murder conviction of US student Amanda Knox has not damaged US-Italian relations, despite suggestions the verdict was tainted by anti-American sentiment and negligence by investigators, a top Italian diplomat said yesterday.

After a tense weekend, the diplomat sought to quell any speculation of a full-blown crisis, saying that no criticism had come from the US secretary of state.

“Who criticised?” said Franco Frattini, answering to reporters in Brussels. “Certainly not Hillary Clinton. Let’s not create confusion.”