American college student Amanda Knox boarded an airplane in Italy a free woman Tuesday enroute to the United States, after a jury in Italy overturned her murder conviction.

Knox collapsed in tears and the courtroom erupted Monday evening when the court decision was read. Knox's former Italian boyfriend and co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, also was exonerated and freed from prison.

Knox was appealing her 26-year prison sentence on charges of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in 2007. A court-appointed independent forensic experts said the DNA used to convict Knox was unreliable and possibly contaminated by police.

The family of Kercher voiced disbelief at the overturned verdict.

A third suspect, former drug dealer Rudy Guede, was given a 30-year prison sentence. He also has pleaded innocent but was not part of Monday's jury decision.