This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7873702.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Kercher accused 'could not kill' | Kercher accused 'could not kill' |
(29 minutes later) | |
A man accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher has told an Italian court that he would find it "hard to kill a fly". | A man accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher has told an Italian court that he would find it "hard to kill a fly". |
Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and his American ex-girlfriend Amanda Knox, 21, deny killing the exchange student. | Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and his American ex-girlfriend Amanda Knox, 21, deny killing the exchange student. |
Miss Kercher was found stabbed to death at the apartment she shared with Miss Knox in November 2007. | Miss Kercher was found stabbed to death at the apartment she shared with Miss Knox in November 2007. |
A third suspect - 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast - was jailed last October for 30 years. | A third suspect - 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast - was jailed last October for 30 years. |
He opted for a fast-track trial, separate from the other defendants. | He opted for a fast-track trial, separate from the other defendants. |
Murder scene | Murder scene |
Prosecutors allege that the trio killed Miss Kercher, who was studying alongside Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito in Perugia, after she refused to participate in an extreme sex game. | Prosecutors allege that the trio killed Miss Kercher, who was studying alongside Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito in Perugia, after she refused to participate in an extreme sex game. |
But as the trial heard its first witness testimony, Mr Sollecito told the court that he was a victim of a "judicial error", and described his situation as "completely unreal". I don't know why I'm still in this situation Raffaele Sollecito | But as the trial heard its first witness testimony, Mr Sollecito told the court that he was a victim of a "judicial error", and described his situation as "completely unreal". I don't know why I'm still in this situation Raffaele Sollecito |
"I have nothing to do with this case," he told the packed Perugia court. | "I have nothing to do with this case," he told the packed Perugia court. |
"I'm not a violent person. | "I'm not a violent person. |
"People who know me know that I find it hard to kill a fly. I don't know why I'm still in this situation." | "People who know me know that I find it hard to kill a fly. I don't know why I'm still in this situation." |
He said his relationship with Miss Knox, 21, was "sentimental". | He said his relationship with Miss Knox, 21, was "sentimental". |
He added that he had not been with Knox long enough for them to want to involve others in their sex life. | He added that he had not been with Knox long enough for them to want to involve others in their sex life. |
Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were appearing in court for the first time following the publication of an official report, which placed Miss Knox at the murder scene. | Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were appearing in court for the first time following the publication of an official report, which placed Miss Knox at the murder scene. |
The sentencing report was published by the trial judge, Paolo Micheli, after Guede's conviction. | The sentencing report was published by the trial judge, Paolo Micheli, after Guede's conviction. |
Judge Micheli wrote that he believed that Amanda Knox was the one who let Guede through the front door into the house where Miss Kercher was found murdered. | Judge Micheli wrote that he believed that Amanda Knox was the one who let Guede through the front door into the house where Miss Kercher was found murdered. |
Mr Micheli also said Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was the victim of a plan to satisfy her assailants' sexual instincts, which went out of control.Meredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programme | Mr Micheli also said Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was the victim of a plan to satisfy her assailants' sexual instincts, which went out of control.Meredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programme |
Mr Sollecito's account that he was downloading a cartoon at his home when Miss Kercher was murdered was contradicted by the first witness called. | Mr Sollecito's account that he was downloading a cartoon at his home when Miss Kercher was murdered was contradicted by the first witness called. |
Postal police chief Filippo Batolozzi said no activity had been detected on Mr Sollecito's computer between 2110 GMT on 1 November and 0532 GMT the next morning. | Postal police chief Filippo Batolozzi said no activity had been detected on Mr Sollecito's computer between 2110 GMT on 1 November and 0532 GMT the next morning. |
He also described how police were sent to Miss Kercher's home after her two mobile phones were found in a neighbour's garden after her death. | He also described how police were sent to Miss Kercher's home after her two mobile phones were found in a neighbour's garden after her death. |
Another witness, Michele Battistelli, a postal police officer who was sent to the murder scene, told the court that Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito looked "surprised" when he arrived. | |
Mr Battistelli recalled that Miss Kercher's room was "covered in blood", adding that it appeared that a break-in had been faked - broken glass was on the floor, he said, but a laptop and camera had not been taken. | |
International press | International press |
The hearing opened with legal arguments, with Miss Knox's lawyers arguing that evidence about her accusing innocent local bar owner Diya "Patrick" Lumumba of the murder should not be admissible. | The hearing opened with legal arguments, with Miss Knox's lawyers arguing that evidence about her accusing innocent local bar owner Diya "Patrick" Lumumba of the murder should not be admissible. |
Lawyers for the Mr Lumumba wanted her accusation to form part of a civil case he is bringing against her. | Lawyers for the Mr Lumumba wanted her accusation to form part of a civil case he is bringing against her. |
Judge Giancarlo Massei ruled that Miss Knox's accusation would be admissible. | Judge Giancarlo Massei ruled that Miss Knox's accusation would be admissible. |
Italy's High Court had previously ruled it inadmissible as she had no lawyer present when initially questioned. | Italy's High Court had previously ruled it inadmissible as she had no lawyer present when initially questioned. |
Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme. | Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme. |
At an earlier hearing, a lawyer for the Kercher family had tried to bar the press and public to stop some evidence being made public. | At an earlier hearing, a lawyer for the Kercher family had tried to bar the press and public to stop some evidence being made public. |
But Judge Micheli denied the request, while reserving the right to hold some sessions in private. | But Judge Micheli denied the request, while reserving the right to hold some sessions in private. |
He said the court would decide on a case-by-case basis when to do this. | He said the court would decide on a case-by-case basis when to do this. |
A large number of journalists from the national and international press have descended on Perugia for the beginning of the trial, which could last much of the year. | A large number of journalists from the national and international press have descended on Perugia for the beginning of the trial, which could last much of the year. |