Amanda Knox is expected to land in her hometown of Seattle, Washington around 5pm PDT Tuesday, one day after an Italian appeals court threw out her conviction for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Earlier today, Knox, 24, switched planes at London’s Heathrow Airport after leaving Rome to make her long journey home after spending four years in an Italian prison.

Her father Curt Knox and mother Edda Mellas, as well as other family members, are traveling with her back to Seattle.

The family is expected to hold a news conference at the airport upon their arrival in the U.S.

Amanda Knox arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on Tuesday to change planes as she continues her journey home after an Italian appeals court threw out her conviction for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Only hours earlier, Knox, 24, was seen smiling at Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, as she was escorted through the terminal.
Her father Kurt Knox and mother Edda Mellas, as well as other family members, are traveling with her on the long journey back to their hometown of Seattle, Washington.

She’s expected to arrive home in Washington state later on Tuesday.

Amanda Knox is on her way home to Seattle, one day after an Italian appeals court overturned her controversial murder conviction, ending her four year nightmare.

PHOTOS: Amanda Knox Heads Home

Amanda, 24, was seen smiling at Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome early Tuesday morning, as she was escorted through the terminal.

Her father Kurt Knox and mother Edda Mellas declined to talk to reporters as they were escorted through the airport by plainclothes Italian police officers. They were accompanied by their spouses and children, but Amanda herself was spared the public check-in process and met up with her family on the flight.

Amanda’s flight will make a stop in London; she’ll then catch a connecting flight to Seattle. She’s expected to arrive home in Washington state later on Tuesday.

While American exchange student Amanda Knox awaits her fate in an Italian prison, her parents are speaking out on her innocence.

Amanda -- and her parents -- will find out by Monday if she will be released from prison on appeal following her controversial conviction in the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

“To use the theory of the prosecution; four people inside a very small room, one person fighting for their life, three people, I’m sure their adrenaline is running, and for Amanda and Raffaele to leave nothing in that room,” Amanda’s father, Curt Knox told Matt Lauer in an interview with the Today show on Friday.

Amanda Knox has won a critical victory in her battle to overturn the Italian murder conviction against her, RadarOnline.com can report.

PHOTOS:  Amanda Knox In Court

The 23-year-old Seattle native has been granted a full and independent review of the DNA evidence used to convict her and her former boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, in the brutal sexual assault and murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher.

Knox and Kercher, who was from the UK, were both exchange students in Italy at the time of her murder.  Knox, Sollecito and another man who was tried separately, were all convicted of her murder.

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Knox, her family and attorney have always maintained her innocence.  They've insisted the DNA evidence taken from Kercher's bra and a knife believed to have been used to slit her throat was inconclusive and should never have been seen as compelling evidence.

Amanda's mom, who has made frequent appearances on the Today show since her daughter's ordeal began three years ago, cried in open court as the decision was read.

"Finally a little bit of good news," Edda Mellas said.

Knox's request for the DNA review had earlier been denied by a lower court; she's facing 26 years in prison if the conviction stands.

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Two DNA experts from Rome's Sapienza University have been selected to conduct the review which will begin January 15.

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