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16/01/2009
Meredith Kercher Murder Trial Begins
The trial of two people accused of murdering British Meredith Kercher is opening today in Italy.
Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and American Amanda Knox, 21, appeared in front of an eight-member jury in a courthouse in the university town of Perugia.
A third suspect, Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year after being convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering 21-year-old Meredith in 2007.
Both Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito deny the same charges.
Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student was killed during a bungled sex game involving Guede, her housemate Miss Knox from Seattle, and her ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari in southern Italy.
Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was studying in the town of Perugia as part of the Europe-wide Erasmus exchange programme when she was found dead in her bedroom on November 2, 2007.
She was discovered semi-naked with her throat cut.
A judge has decided that the trial will be held in public, meaning journalists will be allowed inside the Perugia court to cover proceedings.
A lawyer for Miss Kercher's family had sought to have the proceedings closed to the public and media to prevent the publication of sensitive evidence.
However the judge reserved the right to hold some sessions behind closed doors and will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to do this.
The trial is expected to last several months.
(JM/BMcC)
Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and American Amanda Knox, 21, appeared in front of an eight-member jury in a courthouse in the university town of Perugia.
A third suspect, Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year after being convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering 21-year-old Meredith in 2007.
Both Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito deny the same charges.
Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student was killed during a bungled sex game involving Guede, her housemate Miss Knox from Seattle, and her ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari in southern Italy.
Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was studying in the town of Perugia as part of the Europe-wide Erasmus exchange programme when she was found dead in her bedroom on November 2, 2007.
She was discovered semi-naked with her throat cut.
A judge has decided that the trial will be held in public, meaning journalists will be allowed inside the Perugia court to cover proceedings.
A lawyer for Miss Kercher's family had sought to have the proceedings closed to the public and media to prevent the publication of sensitive evidence.
However the judge reserved the right to hold some sessions behind closed doors and will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to do this.
The trial is expected to last several months.
(JM/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
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29 October 2008
Man Sentenced To Life For Meredith Murder
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher. Rudy Guede, originally from the Ivory Coast, was convicted of rape and murder after a closed trial in Perugia, Italy. He was jailed for 30 years.
Man Sentenced To Life For Meredith Murder
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher. Rudy Guede, originally from the Ivory Coast, was convicted of rape and murder after a closed trial in Perugia, Italy. He was jailed for 30 years.
04 October 2011
Knox Freed Over Dodgy DNA Evidence
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito have been cleared of the murder of Meredith Kercher. Miss Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were freed from prison last night after spending four years behind bars following their conviction for British Meredith's murder.
Knox Freed Over Dodgy DNA Evidence
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito have been cleared of the murder of Meredith Kercher. Miss Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were freed from prison last night after spending four years behind bars following their conviction for British Meredith's murder.
16 September 2008
Trio In Court Over Meredith Kercher Murder
A hearing is taking place in the Italian town of Perugia to decide if the three suspects accused of the murder of Leeds University student Meredith Kercher should face trail. American Amanda Knox, 21, her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, originally from the Ivory Coast, all deny sexual assault and murder.
Trio In Court Over Meredith Kercher Murder
A hearing is taking place in the Italian town of Perugia to decide if the three suspects accused of the murder of Leeds University student Meredith Kercher should face trail. American Amanda Knox, 21, her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, originally from the Ivory Coast, all deny sexual assault and murder.
30 November 2007
Meredith Suspects Appear In Court
Two suspects in the murder of British student Meredith Kercher are in court in Italy to launch an appeal against their continued detention. Amanda Knox, 20, and Raffaele Sollecito, 23, have been held since November 6, five days after Miss Kercher was found dead in the apartment she shared with Miss Knox in Perugia.
Meredith Suspects Appear In Court
Two suspects in the murder of British student Meredith Kercher are in court in Italy to launch an appeal against their continued detention. Amanda Knox, 20, and Raffaele Sollecito, 23, have been held since November 6, five days after Miss Kercher was found dead in the apartment she shared with Miss Knox in Perugia.
07 November 2007
Three Still Held Over Meredith Murder
Italian police are continuing to question three people in connection with the death of British student Meredith Kercher. Amanda Knox, a 20-year-old American student who was also Meredith's room-mate, her 24-year-old Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and 37-year-old Congolese man Patrick Diya Lumumba were all arrested on Tuesday.
Three Still Held Over Meredith Murder
Italian police are continuing to question three people in connection with the death of British student Meredith Kercher. Amanda Knox, a 20-year-old American student who was also Meredith's room-mate, her 24-year-old Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and 37-year-old Congolese man Patrick Diya Lumumba were all arrested on Tuesday.
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