**US student Amanda Knox, who murdered her British flatmate Meredith Kercher in Italy, is now expected to face slander charges, officials say.**The move comes after an inquiry into claims by the 22-year-old that she was beaten by police during questioning.
Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito are both appealing against their murder convictions.
They were found guilty in December of killing Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, in Perugia in 2007.
Knox was jailed for 26 years and Sollecito for 25 years.
During the trial, Knox claimed twice that police had beaten her during questioning, to get her to name Miss Kercher’s killer.
She also said police called her a “stupid liar” and threatened her with prison.
Forensic evidence
Knox has said she was unable to identify the officers who hit her.
The prosecutor in the case said there was no proof of assault and Knox would now be charged with slander in order to protect the good name of the police department.
The charges are expected to follow in the next few weeks to give Knox’s lawyers time to respond to the claims.
Under Italian law, slander can lead to a fine and or a prison sentence of up to six years.
Last November, Ms Knox’s divorced parents were placed under investigation for repeating their daughter’s claim that police officers had beaten her during questioning.
Knox is appealing against her conviction on the grounds that the forensic evidence against her was flawed.