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Kercher accused begins evidence Kercher accused begins evidence
(10 minutes later)
An American woman accused of killing British exchange student Meredith Kercher has begun to give evidence at her murder trial in Italy. An American woman accused of killing British exchange student Meredith Kercher has started to give evidence at her murder trial in Italy.
Amanda Knox, 21, took the witness stand in Perugia, the city where Ms Kercher, 21, of Surrey, was found dead in 2007. Amanda Knox, 21, told the court in Perugia she had been "under pressure" when she wrongly implicated ex-bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder.
Prosecutors argue the Leeds University student died in a violent sex attack. Ms Kercher, 21, of Surrey, was found stabbed to death at the apartment she shared with Miss Knox in November 2007.
Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Ms Knox, his ex-girlfriend, deny murder. A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing. Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, deny murder.
Ms Kercher had been studying and living in the Umbrian university city of Perugia when she was killed on 1 November one-and-a-half years ago. Giving evidence to a packed courtroom, Ms Knox, explained why she had originally pointed the finger of blame at Mr Lumumba.
"Everything [I] said was said in confusion and under pressure," she said. "They [the officers questioning me] were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was 'OK, Patrick'."
Throat cut
She told the court that before she named Mr Lumumba, officers had accused her of trying to protect someone.
"When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said.
Ms Kercher, a Leeds University student, had been studying and living in the Umbrian university city of Perugia when she was killed on 1 November one-and-a-half years ago.
She shared a house with Ms Knox, who was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington.She shared a house with Ms Knox, who was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington.
Ms Kercher's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house on 2 November. Her throat had been cut.Ms Kercher's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house on 2 November. Her throat had been cut.
A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing.