PRESS ASSOCIATION -- The barman Amanda Knox falsely accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher suffers nightmares as a result of her slander, his lawyer has said.
American Knox, 24, is appealing against her conviction for the killing, which prosecutors claimed was the violent finale to a bungled sex game.
In his closing arguments, Carlo Pacelli blamed Knox's false accusation for the recurring bad dreams his client Diya "Patrick" Lumumba keeps having.
Knox pointed the finger at Mr Lumumba during a lengthy interrogation by police following the murder in Perugia, Italy. She later said she had made this statement only because of the pressure police were putting her under.
In 2009 she was jailed for 26 years for the stabbing, in which she maintains she took no part.
But referring to comments attributed to her after the discovery of Miss Kercher's body, Mr Pacelli asked the court: "How could she have known that Meredith suffered a terrible agony?"
In another attempt to erase any sympathy the judges and jury may have for Knox, the Kercher family's lawyer contrasted her situation with that of his clients.
While the Kerchers are struggling to book a flight to Italy for the verdict, Knox has a private jet waiting to take her away, Francesco Maresca claimed. Miss Kercher's mother, Arline, had also suffered ill health, he said.
Making his closing remarks to the court, he also poured scorn on Knox's "false memory". He said: "You might forget where you left your car, but not the sound of someone screaming."
A verdict in Knox and Sollecito's appeal is expected to come on Monday.