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The verdict in the appeal of US student Amanda Knox against her murder conviction will be delivered Monday, the judge hearing the case told the court Thursday.

The judge's announcement came after Knox's defense lawyer began final arguments in the appeals trial.

Carlo Dalla Vedova told the appeals court the American student convicted of murdering her roommate is an innocent girl whose life has been swept away by a tsunami.

He also said that Knox has been the victim of a "tragic judicial case" and has spent about 1,000 days behind bars as a result.

Knox was convicted of murdering Meredith Kercher, a British student in Perugia, and sentenced to 26 years in prison, while co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years.

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They deny wrongdoing.

Knox was arrested on Nov. 6, 2007 -- four days after Kercher's body was found in the apartment they shared in Perugia.

Newscore contributed to this report.