of Knox or Sollecito towards Kercher, as the prosecutor had maintained.

The appeal will be considered by a jury of two judges and six jurors.

"It's a real second chance," criminal defense attorney Alessandra Batassa told ABC News. "You can ask in your appeal for new evidence, new witnesses and you can try to demonstrate you are innocent one more time."

Chris Mellas said Knox's days involve reading, an hour she is allowed to exercise and some socialization time in the afternoon when her prison door is unlocked and she can mingle with other prisoners. They often play cards or just talk among themselves.

"Once a week they have choir. Amanda is singing in the Christmas show this year. She is singing soprano – in Italian," he said.

Knox is a voracious readerand recently she has taken up art.

"Amanda is doing a lot more art. She is a talented artist. She only has access to colored pencils, markers and paper. She is doing a lot of drawings of the family and sending them to us," said her mother Edda Mellas.

Knox has received permission to continue her studies and is taking classes through the University of Washington in creative writing. She hopes to complete her college degree in English.