Amanda Knox, a 21-year-old American suspect in the murder of British University student Meredith Kercher, has beaten former French-Colombian hostage and politician Ingrid Betancourt in a 'personality of the year' public internet poll.
The American came fourth, and was the most popular woman, in the poll by Studio Aperto, a news programme on the Italia 1 channel of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset broadcasting group.
Knox garnered 8% of votes, thrashing Olympic swimming champion Federica Pellegrini (3%) as well as Betancourt, Alaska governor and former vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, and French first lady Carla Bruni, who all received 1% of votes.
Roberto Saviano, author of best-selling Mafia expose' Gomorrah, eventually topped the poll after a close fight with motorcycling superstar Valentino Rossi, and United States President-elect Barack Obama came in third ahead of Knox with 13% of votes.
Knox's 'angel-faced' looks have helped her grab headlines over the last year while she has been awaiting trial in a Perugia prison.
The trial of Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, for their alleged part in the Kercher murder will begin on January 16.
British exchange student Kercher, 21, was found semi-naked and with her throat slashed on November 2 last year in the house she shared in Perugia with Knox and two other Italian women.
Last month a third defendant, 21-year-old Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years for sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher after opting for a fast-track trial.
The prosecution claims Kercher was killed when all three suspects tried to force her to participate in ''a perverse group sex game''.
The suspects deny the charges.
