The convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of Coulsdon student Meredith Kercher have been reinstated, with the pair having their sentences increased.

The pair were convicted following a high-profile trial, but the pair were later cleared in 2011 after an appeal court criticised large swathes of the case against them.

But last year a new appeal was ordered to take place after the Italian Supreme Court dismissed the 2011 ruling as being flawed.

And minutes ago an appeal judge in Perugia reinstated the original conviction and increased their convictions.

Knox has been sentenced to 28 years and six months, Sollecito to 25 years.

Knox, who stayed in the US during the case, could now be the centre of an extradition battle to get her from the States to Italy to serve her prison sentence.

Kercher's sister Stephanie smiled as the verdict came in and accepted handshakes from some of the lawyers. Her brother, Lyle, was also in the court.

Both Knox and Sollecito will now appeal their convictions.