A lawyer in the appeal trial for Amanda Knox against her murder conviction told an Italian court that the American student is “diabolical” and has a split personality.

Carlo Bacelli, the lawyer for a man falsely accused by Knox, told the court Monday that her lie destroyed his client Patrick Lumumba's image. Knox later withdrew the accusation saying she made the statement after being pressured by police. Lumumba was later cleared of involvement in the case.

Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, are appealing their convictions in the 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison; Sollecito to 25. Kercher was found lying dead and half-naked in a pool of blood in the house she shared with Knox.

On Saturday, prosecutors demanded the court reject the appeal and maintained that Kercher was killed in a drug-fueled sex game that turned violent. The prosecutors asked the court to increase Knox's and Sollecito's sentences to life in prison.

A third person, Rudy Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. All three defendants say they are innocent.

A verdict in the case is expected in early October.

Knox's appeal is based on the findings of independent court-appointed experts who said the DNA evidence used to convict Knox was not reliable and was possibly contaminated by police.