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Kercher accused 'under pressure' Kercher accused 'under pressure'
(10 minutes later)
An American woman accused of killing UK exchange student Meredith Kercher has told her Italian trial she felt "under pressure" when questioned by police. A woman accused of killing UK exchange student Meredith Kercher has told her Italian trial she felt "under pressure" from police to name a suspect.
Amanda Knox, 21, giving evidence for the first time, said she wrongly implicated ex-bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder because she was confused. American Amanda Knox, 21, giving evidence for the first time, said she wrongly implicated ex-bar owner Patrick Lumumba because she was confused.
Ms Kercher, 21, of south London, was found stabbed to death at the flat she shared with Ms Knox in November 2007.Ms Kercher, 21, of south London, was found stabbed to death at the flat she shared with Ms Knox in November 2007.
Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, deny murder.Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, deny murder.
Giving evidence to a packed courtroom, Ms Knox explained why she had originally pointed the finger of blame at Mr Lumumba.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'.""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 cutThroat cut
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.
"When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said."When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said.
The [police] declarations were taken against my will Defendant Amanda KnoxThe [police] declarations were taken against my will Defendant Amanda Knox
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.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.
In court, Mr Lumumba's lawyer, Carlo Pacelli, asked Ms Knox why she had implicated his client.In court, Mr Lumumba's lawyer, Carlo Pacelli, asked Ms Knox why she had implicated his client.
"They told me try to remember what I apparently, according to them, had forgotten," she said."They told me try to remember what I apparently, according to them, had forgotten," she said.
"Under the amount of pressure of everyone yelling at me and having them tell me they were going to put me in prison for protecting someone that I wasn't protecting, that I couldn't remember."Under the amount of pressure of everyone yelling at me and having them tell me they were going to put me in prison for protecting someone that I wasn't protecting, that I couldn't remember.
"I couldn't understand why they were so sure that I was the one who knew everything and so in my confusion I started to imagine that maybe I was traumatised, like what they said."I couldn't understand why they were so sure that I was the one who knew everything and so in my confusion I started to imagine that maybe I was traumatised, like what they said.
"The declarations were taken against my will.""The declarations were taken against my will."
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.