Convicted killer Amanda Knox briefly returned to court in Italy yesterday for the start of her appeal, a year after she was found guilty of killing British roommate Meredith Kercher.

The hearing, devoted mainly to procedural matters, lasted 15 minutes and the case was adjourned until December 11.

Ms Knox was escorted by a policewoman into the same Perugia courtroom where the first trial was held. The 23-year-old was convicted in December of sexually assaulting and murdering Ms Kercher, and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Also present was Raffaele Sollecito, the Italian who was Ms Knox’s boyfriend at the time of the murder. He has been convicted of the same charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Both have always maintained their innocence.

Luciano Ghirga, a lawyer for Knox, said on the eve of the appeal that the American’s confidence had been low in recent days, but was now eager for the appeals trial to get going, so that “at least she knows what lies ahead.”

The defence is seeking a full review of the case, hoping to introduce new witnesses and ultimately win an acquittal. The prosecutors have also appealed, as they can in Italy, as the ruling fell short of their demand for life in prison. “We want an acquittal, the prosecution demands a life sentence: It’s an intense, harsh and violent legal clash,” Mr Ghirga said.

Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito have been in jail since November 6, 2007, four days after Ms Kercher’s body was found, her throat slit, in the apartment she and Ms Knox shared as exchange students in Perugia. Forensic experts said she was killed when a sex game turned violent.