The ex-boyfriend of Amanda Knox, on trial with her for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher, distanced himself from his co-defendant Tuesday, saying the two had not been together for the whole evening when the crime took place.

Raffaele Sollecito, convicted alongside Knox of the murder in 2009 and cleared on appeal four years later, was reconvicted in January this year after a retrial and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He is currently appealing the verdict.

Speaking at a news conference in Rome on Tuesday, he said he was convinced of the innocence of Knox, who has returned to the United States and shows no signs of wanting to return to Italy, but that he could not speak on her behalf.