Real estate mogul Donald Trump said Monday he helped the family of Amanda Knox, who earlier in the day had her murder conviction overturned after spending four years in an Italian prison, because he always believed in the Seattle native’s innocence.



“I helped the family out — I felt very, very badly for that family and for her — I never thought she did it,” Trump told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “I watched very intently, like everybody else, and there was just no way she was involved in that.



“And so I did help them out — I feel very, very happy about it — in fact, I said boycott Italy until they release her,” Trump said. “It was really an injustice — and I would get on that plane so fast if I were her and get out.”



Van Susteren asked Trump whether he had ever spoken to her parents. Trump said he had and “well, they’re lovely people.”



“And this is amazing — she went there for a short period of time to learn Italian — and guess what? She learned Italian. That’s the only thing she got out of the trip,” he said. “And I think she maybe will be a star — she’s really good — I think she’s a good person.



“I thought it was horrible what happened — I thought the Italian prosecutor was a horrendous person with a terrible background and a terrible record,” Trump said. “And it’s great that she’s coming home.”