Italian Judge OKs Slander Trial for Amanda Knox

(Nov. 8) -- American Amanda Knox, imprisoned in Italy for murder, was ordered today to stand trial on slander charges for accusing police of beating her when she was questioned about the slaying of her roommate in 2007.

If Knox, 23, is convicted, she faces another six years on top of the 26-year-sentence she is serving for murder and sexual assault in the death of her British roommate, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher, CBS reported. The slander trial is scheduled for May 17.

Knox, a former student at the University of Washington, is "very sad and worried" but ready for the upcoming appeal of the murder conviction, her lawyer, Carlo Dalla Vedova, told The Associated Press.

Today's slander indictment was not a surprise to her parents, who also face slander charges for repeating their daughter's claim of mistreatment.

"I'm disappointed," Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, told CBS' "The Early Show" from Seattle. "But these are the same people that all ruled against Amanda initially, so we didn't think they were going to change their minds."

The decision to try Knox for slander came during a closed-door hearing in Perugia, Italy, the AP reported. Knox told the judge she didn't mean to commit slander but was trying to defend herself, the AP said, citing her lawyer. Police have denied misconduct.

Knox's parents are now turning their attention toward the appeal, set to begin Nov. 24. Curt Knox, her father, said he was thankful that a new judge is hearing the case, as CBS reported that the judge has a reputation for fairness.

"It gives us that much more optimism to get a real conclusion and have an opportunity to bring Amanda home," he said on "The Early Show."

Mellas said, "We're all starting to get a little more hopeful, because we have such a strong case for appeal. There is nothing that connects her to that crime, and now we have a judge who might actually listen. So we're keeping our fingers crossed that it goes correctly."

Knox said his daughter, too, is more optimistic. "This is going to be her chance once again to have this wrongful conviction overturned," he said on CBS. "She's looking forward to that."

Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted in Kercher's death. Sollecito is serving 25 years. A third defendant, Rudy Guede, was tried separately and sentenced to 16 years, according to CNN.

Kercher was found semi-nude in the house she lived in with Knox, her throat slashed. All three defendants denied any wrongdoing.