By Nick Pisa PUBLISHED: 05:48 EST, 27 June 2013 | UPDATED: 06:50 EST, 27 June 2013 The judge who cleared Amanda Knox of killing Meredith Kerchner has hit out at his colleagues who overturned the decision, saying they were 'violating the law'. Claudio Pratillo Hellmann acquitted Knox, 26, and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 29, of murdering the British student in 2011 after they had initially been found guilty and sentenced to 26 and 25 years jail respectively. However, three months ago the Italian Supreme Court overruled that decision, saying that key evidence had been overlooked, and a fresh trial is expected to begin in the autumn.
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Knox had murder conviction overturned by Claudio Pratillo Hellmann
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But Supreme Court ruled that he ignored evidence and ordered a fresh trial
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Hellmann hits out and claims judges have overstepped their powers
'The @placeholder judges in effect carried out a straight-legged tackle,' he said.