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Back in Hometown, Amanda Knox Thanks Those Who Believed In Her

SEATAC, Wash. - Seattle native Amanda Knox is thanking all those who defended her during her ordeal in Italy over the stabbing of her British roommate. Supporters yelled "Welcome home, Amanda" as the University of Washington student made an emotional return home Tuesday evening.

An appeals court in Perugia reversed Knox's murder conviction and set her free barely 24 hours before.

Knox fought through tears as she briefly addressed the throng of fans and reporters who awaited her arrival at SeaTac Airport. The pony-tailed 24-year-old said her family had to remind her "to speak in English" since she'd just spent four years in an Italian prison.

"My family is the most important thing for me right now and I just want to go be with them," Knox said. "Thank you for being there for me."

Moments later, Knox's family bundled her off to begin a readjustment period of at a secret location.

Back in Italy, the prosecutor who handled Knox's case expressed disbelief over the reversal of her conviction. He promised to appeal to Italy's highest criminal court once he receives the written explanation from the appellate jury.

Copyright 2011 Northwest News Network

Copyright 2011 Northwest News Network

Correspondent Tom Banse is an Olympia-based reporter with more than three decades of experience covering Washington and Oregon state government, public policy, business and breaking news stories. Most of his career was spent with public radio's Northwest News Network, but now in semi-retirement his work is appearing on other outlets.