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Kercher accused 'under pressure' Kercher accused 'under pressure'
(10 minutes later)
The woman accused of British student Meredith Kercher's murder has told her Italian trial she felt "under pressure" from police to name a suspect.The woman accused of British student Meredith Kercher's murder has told her Italian trial she felt "under pressure" from police to name a suspect.
American Amanda Knox, 21, said she had wrongly implicated an innocent ex-bar owner because she was confused.American Amanda Knox, 21, said she had wrongly implicated an innocent ex-bar owner because she was confused.
She said she was at the home of her co-accused ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, who also denies murder, when her flatmate was stabbed to death.She said she was at the home of her co-accused ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, who also denies murder, when her flatmate was stabbed to death.
Ms Kercher, 21, of south London, was killed on 1 November 2007.Ms Kercher, 21, of south London, was killed on 1 November 2007.
The Leeds University student's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house she shared with Ms Knox in the Umbrian university city of Perugia the following day.The Leeds University student's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house she shared with Ms Knox in the Umbrian university city of Perugia the following day.
Her throat had been cut.Her throat had been cut.
Giving evidence for the first time, Ms Knox described returning home to find the door open and nobody answering when she called.Giving evidence for the first time, Ms Knox described returning home to find the door open and nobody answering when she called.
"I went to my room and changed, went to the bathroom and saw spots of blood there," she told the packed courtroom."I went to my room and changed, went to the bathroom and saw spots of blood there," she told the packed courtroom.
The [police] declarations were taken against my will Defendant Amanda KnoxThe [police] declarations were taken against my will Defendant Amanda Knox
"I had a shower and on the way back to my room I saw blood on the floor. I thought: 'Hm, strange'.""I had a shower and on the way back to my room I saw blood on the floor. I thought: 'Hm, strange'."
Another flatmate, Filomena Romanelli, returned to the house to discover her window had been broken, before they noticed Ms Kercher's door was locked, Ms Knox said.Another flatmate, Filomena Romanelli, returned to the house to discover her window had been broken, before they noticed Ms Kercher's door was locked, Ms Knox said.
"I felt strange, it was a strange situation," she added."I felt strange, it was a strange situation," she added.
She said she had not seen the murder scene but added: "I heard there was a body in there. There was lots of confusion.She said she had not seen the murder scene but added: "I heard there was a body in there. There was lots of confusion.
"I was in shock. I couldn't believe what had happened, couldn't accept it.""I was in shock. I couldn't believe what had happened, couldn't accept it."
ConfusionConfusion
Ms Knox was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington when Ms Kercher died.Ms Knox was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington when Ms Kercher died.
In court, the lawyer for Patrick Lumumba, who employed Ms Knox as a barmaid, asked her why she had implicated his client.In court, the lawyer for Patrick Lumumba, who employed Ms Knox as a barmaid, asked her why she had implicated his client.
She replied: "Everything [I] said was said in confusion and under pressure.She replied: "Everything [I] said was said in confusion and under pressure.
"They [the officers questioning me] were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was 'OK, Patrick'.""They [the officers questioning me] were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was 'OK, Patrick'."
She told the court that before she named Mr Lumumba, officers had accused her of trying to protect someone.She told the court that before she named Mr Lumumba, officers had accused her of trying to protect someone.
Meredith Kercher was found dead two months into her studies in ItalyMeredith Kercher was found dead two months into her studies in Italy
"When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said."When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said.
Ms Knox claimed the officers had threatened her with prison and that in her confusion she had started to imagine that she was traumatised and that what they said was true. Ms Knox claimed the officers had threatened her with prison and that in her confusion she had started to imagine that what they said was true and that she was traumatised.
"The declarations were taken against my will," she added."The declarations were taken against my will," she added.
She said she eventually realised that what she had thought about Mr Lumumba was "just imagination".She said she eventually realised that what she had thought about Mr Lumumba was "just imagination".
"I felt very, very bad about it," she added."I felt very, very bad about it," she added.
She went on to tell the court that she had enjoyed good relations with Ms Kercher and had last seen her at 1pm on the day before her body was found.She went on to tell the court that she had enjoyed good relations with Ms Kercher and had last seen her at 1pm on the day before her body was found.
Later that day Mr Lumumba had sent her a text message telling her not to go to work, she said.Later that day Mr Lumumba had sent her a text message telling her not to go to work, she said.
'Doing homework''Doing homework'
Consequently, she spent the evening at Mr Sollecito's apartment where the couple ate dinner, smoked a marijuana joint and went to bed.Consequently, she spent the evening at Mr Sollecito's apartment where the couple ate dinner, smoked a marijuana joint and went to bed.
She said she woke up next to Mr Sollecito the following day and was surprised when police wanted to question her about the murder.She said she woke up next to Mr Sollecito the following day and was surprised when police wanted to question her about the murder.
"I was sitting on my own doing my homework when a couple of police officers came and sat with me," she told the court."I was sitting on my own doing my homework when a couple of police officers came and sat with me," she told the court.
"They began to ask me the same questions they'd been asking me all those days ever since it happened."They began to ask me the same questions they'd been asking me all those days ever since it happened.
"For instance, who could I imagine could be the person who had killed Meredith, and I said I still didn't know.""For instance, who could I imagine could be the person who had killed Meredith, and I said I still didn't know."
A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing.A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing.