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Kercher accused 'had no emotion' Kercher accused 'had no emotion'
(about 2 hours later)
The American woman charged with the murder of British student Meredith Kercher showed no emotion over the death, an Italian court has heard.The American woman charged with the murder of British student Meredith Kercher showed no emotion over the death, an Italian court has heard.
Robyn Butterworth, a British friend of Miss Kercher, said she found Amanda Knox's behaviour "very strange".Robyn Butterworth, a British friend of Miss Kercher, said she found Amanda Knox's behaviour "very strange".
She said she did not cry and was "joking, kissing and cuddling" with her co-accused ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito.She said she did not cry and was "joking, kissing and cuddling" with her co-accused ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito.
Miss Knox spoke for the first time in court, saying she was innocent of the killing in November 2007. A third suspect - 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast - was jailed last October for 30 years.
Guede opted for a fast-track trial, separate from the other defendants.
Later Miss Knox spoke for the first time in court, saying she was innocent of the killing in November 2007.
Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, near London, was found stabbed to death at a flat she shared with Miss Knox.Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, near London, was found stabbed to death at a flat she shared with Miss Knox.
Both Miss Knox, 21, and Italian Mr Sollecito, 24, deny the murder charges.Both Miss Knox, 21, and Italian Mr Sollecito, 24, deny the murder charges.
In her first statement to the court, Miss Knox stood up and spoke in Italian: "I am innocent and I have faith in the system."
'Fooling around''Fooling around'
Miss Butterworth was one of several British students to give evidence at the court in Perugia, central Italy, on Friday.Miss Butterworth was one of several British students to give evidence at the court in Perugia, central Italy, on Friday.
She said a group of friends, who Miss Kercher had met while studying in Perugia, had gathered at the police station just hours after her body had been found.She said a group of friends, who Miss Kercher had met while studying in Perugia, had gathered at the police station just hours after her body had been found.
"I found Amanda's behaviour very strange and I found it quite difficult to be around her," she said."I found Amanda's behaviour very strange and I found it quite difficult to be around her," she said.
"We were all crying. I didn't see her crying.""We were all crying. I didn't see her crying."
Meredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programmeMeredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programme
Speaking through a translator, she said Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were "fooling around" as they waited to see police.Speaking through a translator, she said Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were "fooling around" as they waited to see police.
"I remember Amanda sticking her tongue out at Raffaele," she added. "They were talking and joking, kissing and cuddling.""I remember Amanda sticking her tongue out at Raffaele," she added. "They were talking and joking, kissing and cuddling."
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said this was the first time "close witnesses" to the case had given evidence.The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said this was the first time "close witnesses" to the case had given evidence.
He also said Miss Knox stood up and addressed the court in Italian, saying: "I am innocent and I have faith in the system". He also said Miss Kercher's British friends portrayed Miss Knox as a cold person who often acted strangely.
He added it was the prosecution's case the pair were "cold-blooded murderers" who killed Miss Kercher in a sex game, but Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito claim they were at his house working on the computer.He added it was the prosecution's case the pair were "cold-blooded murderers" who killed Miss Kercher in a sex game, but Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito claim they were at his house working on the computer.
Miss Knox and Miss Kercher were studying in the Umbrian hilltop town of Perugia at the time of the murder on 2 November 2007.Miss Knox and Miss Kercher were studying in the Umbrian hilltop town of Perugia at the time of the murder on 2 November 2007.
Miss Kercher's semi-naked body was found in her bedroom in the shared cottage. Her throat had been cut.Miss Kercher's semi-naked body was found in her bedroom in the shared cottage. Her throat had been cut.
Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito have been held for 15 months awaiting the trial, which is expected to last at least until summer.Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito have been held for 15 months awaiting the trial, which is expected to last at least until summer.
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.