becky anderson is outside the courthouse where she's been getting crowd reaction, very intense, i assume mixed opinions. is that what you're seeing, becky? >> absolutely. a lot of mixed opinions. i'm joined by somebody who is furious about what happened tonight. veronica is a fourth year law student here in perugia. you were part of the protest moments ago here. why? >> i am very upset with the italian justice. i think the process go very, very bad. this family needs some justice. more important to know the real truth of the story. i think they happen to know who is the killer of her daughter. i hoped the legal process will be useful. >> you're talking about meredith kercher, lest we forget there was a victim in all this. a young girl brutally assaulted and murdered in between. you don't believe amanda knox and sollecito should have been released tonight? >> i really believe it is completely out of mind. >> do you think a lot of people agree with you? >> absolutely. the majority of people agree with me. >> why do you think that is? >> i think the problem is the italian justice. this fami

becky anderson is standing by outside that courtroom. imagine the tension through the roof right now as people know we're moments away from a decision in all of this. >> reporter: yeah, absolutely. the tension is palpable out here. i mean, these streets were fairly empty for most of the day, a lot of media around. we didn't have the sort of inquisitive audience there is here now. people from all over perugia just here to find out what is going to happen in the next few minutes. just before we hear from the presiding judge, just want our viewers to have a sense what they might be listening out for. we will translate what the presiding judge helmand says. he'll be speaking in italian, of course, we'll be translating it for you live on cnn. listen up for two key numbers. if there's an acquittal in all of this, you will hear him use the number, we understand at least, article 530. if the decision here on appeal is to uphold the conviction of murder, you will hear the number 533. so listen up for 530, that will be an acquittal, 533 suggests t

becky anderson is live outside of the courthouse. ry, this was a very emotional statement from amanda knox. she, she was crying through a lot of it. >> yes, speaking italian, back now at the prison, about 40 minutes from here. this is the courthouse where the jury is now deliberating. we've been told not to expect a verdict on this appeal for about eight hours. they will be considering the pleas of innocence from both amanda knox today and from her former boyfriend, raffaele sollecito. and both impassioned, saying they weren't there, amanda knox said that she didn't kill anybody, she didn't rape anybody, she's never stolen anything. i mean really emotional stuff. as they spoke for about 15 minutes each. the key here is the dna evidence, carol. forensics suggesting certainly according to two independent experts, forensics suggests that a dna on a bra clasp and on a knife that prosecutors say was used to kill meredith kercher in 2007 is questionable and not enough to convict these two of the crime of murder. so we now wait to hear what

becky anderson in italy, thank you. now to your morning money.thanks to automatic increases, the minimum wage is expected to rise in eight states. ohio, colorado, montana, oregon, arizona, florida, vermont and washington. economists say the euro will survive as a currency without losing any member, not even greece. 22 economists were surveyed and 17 said it would hold together. despite all believe greece will default on its debt by the end of next year. in the first six months american airlines made $1.3 billion in fees for blanket, food, express baggage charges. it might not be big enough to stave off bankruptcy? american airlines' shares fell 33% on fears bankruptcy is around the corner. we'll watch to see what shares do again today. >>> new jersey governor chris christie not a candidate yet. but president obama says he is sounding like one. what else he has to say about the man who might be eyeing his job coming up. but first a check out today's get smart question. we told you eight states will increase their minimum wage next year. what state

becky anderson looks at how a similar tax is working in europe and what it would mean for things you> value added tax is similar to a sales tax but they both cost you about the same amount. it truly rests on the percentage that the government takes. like the sales tax in the united states, which varies from state to state, it also varies from country to country here in the european union. but for us in america, some say it's like alaska, as you know, have no sales tax with the highest state being california with a 7.25% sales tax. over here in europe, the lowest v.a.t. rate is 15% in sigh prus, the highest being sweden with 25% vat rate. although goods like food and baby clothes are v.a.t. exempt. a good way to look at the impact is looking at the good available across the world. this is the ipod classic. the store in new york, that would set you back $271. but that same ipod here in the u.k. would cost $312 and in sweden, you see here because of the v.a.t. rate it would cost you $390. now v.a.t. is controversial, some people argue it hurts the poorest because you pay the same regard

becky anderson is in london. becky, this is something that got the palace's attention.ess of cambridge looked absolutely stunning when she overtook her first solo engagement last night, but her swept-back hairdo revealed what looked like a 3-inch scar. the british papers were awash with speculation about how she got it. the spokesperson for st. james' palace did confirm the scar was the result of a childhood operation, but gave no further detail, saying this was a private matter. erin? >> all right. thank you. obviously people very curious about it, though. >>> well, was michael jackson addicted to demerol? that was the focus of testimony in the conrad murray trial. today an addiction specialist for the defense took the stand. >> what are the things that you see in these medical records which cause you to believe that? >> six weeks of very frequent high-dose use, i believe, would result in opioid dependence in any of us. >> and you would consider this very high use? >> very high. >> that's right. conrad murray's team wants to prove that jackson was heavily addicted to t

becky anderson is in london. becky, this is something that got the palace's attention.o argument, the duchess of cambridge looked absolutely stunning when she overtook her first solo engagement last night, but her swept-back hairdo revealed what looked like a 3-inch scar. the british papers were awash with speculation about how she got it. the spokesperson for st. james' palace did confirm the scar was the result of a childhood operation, but gave no further detail, saying this was a private matter. erin? >> all right. thank you. obviously people very curious about it, though. >>> well, was michael jackson addicted to demerol? that was the focus of testimony in the conrad murray trial. today an addiction specialist for the defense took the stand. >> what are the things that you see in these medical records which cause you to believe that? >> six weeks of very frequent high-dose use, i believe, would result in opioid dependence in any of us. >> and you would consider this very high use? >> very high. >> that's right. conrad murray's team wants to prove that jackson was h

becky anderson is in london tonight. why is this vote so important? >> it is very simple.ement increasingly stringent austerity measures, they won't get the money they need from europe and the imf to pay their bills. that means default and bankruptcy. this may be the most crucial week for greece and europe. this is a deeply unpopular set of measures and greece's two main unions, which represent about half of the workforce is preparing for one of the biggest protests since this crisis began. a meltdown in greece has an effect on banks just not in europe, but across the entire world. erin? >> that's right. certainly here in the u.s. some banks could be very exposed. and now we go to china, where people are reeling after a horrific video captured a 2-year-old being run over twice and left for dead. we want to warn you, this is very hard to watch. eunice yoon is in beijing the little girl is in critical condition, but this got a lot of coverage in china. >> people here are outraged by the double the hit and run, but they're equally disturbed by the indifference of the passersb

becky anderson is reporting from london. the did the prosecutor explain?ack to 2003 when a writer alleged that dominique straus-kahn tried to rape her when she went to interview him at an apartment in paris. the prosecutors say that dominique straus-kahn admitted sexual aggression at the time, but the problem from was the sexual aggression has a three-year statute of limitations. attempted rape has a ten-year statute of limitations. the prosecutors, they said they just -- this just wasn't the evidence. >> thank you very much. >>> behind comprehension and disturbing is how one medical expert described the care that michael jackson received from dr. conrad murray. prosecutors continue to try to show that dr. murray was grossly negligent as witnesses testified that he gave jackson a combination of drugs that killed him. >> i think this was the perfect storm that i described that ultimately culminated in his demise. >> ted rowlands has been in the courtroom every day. was the testimony as damaging as it appears? >> the defense would argue they scored some poin

becky anderson is reporting from london. did the prosecutor elaborate further or explain?an bannan alleged that dominique strauss-kahn tried to rape her in an apartment in paris. the prosecutorses say dominique strauss-kahn admitted sexual aggression at the time, but the problem was the sexual aggression has a three-year statute of eliminations. attempted rape has a ten-year statute of limitations. prosecutors said there just wasn't the evidence. >> thank you, becky. >>> beyond comprehension. prosecutors tried to show that dr. murray was grossly negligent as witnesses testified that he gave jackson a combination of drugs that killed him. >> i think this was the perfect storm that i described, that ultimately culminated in his demise. >> ed negligent. >> ted rollins has been in the courtroom. was the testimony as damaging as it appears? >> reporter: they feel they were able to bring up other things. it was a very, very good week for prosecutors because of the witnesses. >> the prosecution, i know they could be on their last witness. any sense of when the jury will get this

becky anderson is in london tonight.ni escaped indictment, that's good for him, but does it put an end to his legal troubles. >> reporter: a judge today decided there was noe not enough evidence to pursue this against mr. berlusconi, but he still faces three active trials in milano charges including corruption, tax fraud and accusations he paid for sex with underaged girls. mr. berlusconi himself proclaims his innocence in all three outstanding cases and continues to accuse his enemies of just waging a campaign to ouster him from power. erin? >> becky, thank you. >>> meantime, we are just about 15 minutes away from the cnn gop debate right here in las vegas, but it is also the president that we have seen going out to push his agenda. president obama was out on the road pushing to pass his jobs bill today, urging an audience in a high school in virginia, urging congress to get to work. >> tell these members of congress they're supposed to be working for you. not working for special interests, not working for campaign cont

becky anderson is reporting from london. did the prosecutor elaborate further or explain? all dates back to 2003, when writer tristan bannan alleged that dominique strauss-kahn tried to rape her in an apartment in paris. the prosecutorses say dominique strauss-kahn admitted sexual aggression at the time, but the problem was the sexual aggression has a three-year statute of eliminations. attempted rape has a ten-year statute of limitations. prosecutors said there just wasn't the evidence. >> thank you, becky. >>> beyond comprehension. prosecutors tried to show that dr. murray was grossly negligent as witnesses testified that he gave jackson a combination of drugs that killed him. >> i think this was the perfect storm that i described, that ultimately culminated in his the e ttinys 3 % it eecd atheur af ti. >>> behind comprehension and disturbing, it's how one person described the care michael jackson received under dr. murray. they tried to prove he was grossly negligent. >> ted rollins has been in the courtroom. was the testimony as damaging as it appears? >> reporter: the

becky anderson is in london tonight. why is this vote so important? >> it is very simple.ent increasingly stringent austerity measures, they won't get the money they need from europe and the imf to pay their bills. that means default and bankruptcy. this may be the most crucial week for greece and europe. this is a deeply unpopular set of measures and greece's two main unions, which represent about half of the workforce is preparing for one of the biggest protests since this crisis began. a meltdown in greece has an effect on banks just not in europe, but across the entire world. erin? >> that's right. certainly here in the u.s. some banks could be very exposed. and now we go to china, where people are reeling after a horrific video captured a 2-year-old being run over twice and left for dead. we want to warn you, this is very hard to watch. eunice yoon is in beijing the little girl is in critical condition, but this got a lot of coverage in china. >> people here are outraged by the double the hit and run, but they're equally disturbed by the indifference of the passersby.

let's get the latest from becky anderson live in perugia, italy this morning. do we have a timetable for knox' departure, becky? >> reporter: yes. we believe she's gone. it's now mid-day local town, and we believe she left rome, about two hours from here, at 11:00. the family went to london on a regular flight. a possibility knox left on a private jet. they're going to london, we believe. there's a flight about 3:00 local time london out of heathrow to seattle, and so she'll be there with, what, eight, nine hours after she leaves london. this is the front page of the local paper here. "innocent. they didn't do it. the court of appeals absolves amanda knox and raffaele sollecito." and outside the courthouse, shame. not happy with the decision. the presiding judge told me this last night. >> we are fully satisfied amanda's release, she was to go back home. she's been waiting for this. she always confirmed that she was a friend of aamanda -- of meredith. so this has been -- she's likes italy, likes perugia. she will be back. she came here for this reason. she just

. >> cnn's becky anderson joins us live from italy. becky, paint a picture for us if you will. what was it like inside the courtroom when knox made that statement? >> yeah. quite the most highly charged 40, 45 minutes this morning. around 9:30 local time, it is just after 6:00 now, suzanne. this was knox's last chance to convince a jury at this appeal of her innocence. she effectively said -- i paraphrase here -- but she said i didn't do it, i didn't kill her, i didn't rape her, i didn't steal, i didn't do it. those effectively the words that she used today. the jury have been out now for some time about eight hours. we were told not to expect a verdict before 8:00 local time. let me tell you, they are in this building here. they've been out for about eight hours. local time, 8:00 is two hours from now so we are expecting a verdict any time. it seems at least to those who have visited knox who is back in prison, which is about 40 minutes away today, that she is confident that this verdict will be overturned on appeal. my colleague paula newton spoke to an italian mp, member of