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| Kercher accused request rejected | Kercher accused request rejected |
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| The judge in the trial of two people accused of killing UK student Meredith Kercher in Italy has rejected defence lawyers' calls to drop indictments. | The judge in the trial of two people accused of killing UK student Meredith Kercher in Italy has rejected defence lawyers' calls to drop indictments. |
| Amanda Knox, and her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, deny killing Ms Kercher, 21, in November 2007. | Amanda Knox, and her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, deny killing Ms Kercher, 21, in November 2007. |
| As the trial reopened after a two-month break, their lawyers challenged DNA findings. But judge Giancarlo Massei ruled that proceedings should go on. | As the trial reopened after a two-month break, their lawyers challenged DNA findings. But judge Giancarlo Massei ruled that proceedings should go on. |
| Ms Kercher, from London, was found in a Perugia house she and Ms Knox shared. | Ms Kercher, from London, was found in a Perugia house she and Ms Knox shared. |
| The Leeds University student's body was discovered with her throat cut. | The Leeds University student's body was discovered with her throat cut. |
| A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing. He has denied wrongdoing and is appealing against his conviction. | A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing. He has denied wrongdoing and is appealing against his conviction. |
| Ms Knox claims she spent that night at Mr Sollecito's apartment where they ate dinner, smoked a marijuana joint, had sex and went to bed. | Ms Knox claims she spent that night at Mr Sollecito's apartment where they ate dinner, smoked a marijuana joint, had sex and went to bed. |
| Prosecutors say Ms Kercher, who was from Coulsdon, in south London, was killed after refusing to take part in a drug-fuelled sex game. | Prosecutors say Ms Kercher, who was from Coulsdon, in south London, was killed after refusing to take part in a drug-fuelled sex game. |
| Curt Knox: "She is hoping that this really is the home stretch of the trial" | Curt Knox: "She is hoping that this really is the home stretch of the trial" |
| Lawyers for the accused said some documents supporting the attribution of DNA samples - that prosecutors claim link the defendants to the case - had not been made available to the defence quickly enough. | |
| They asked for the indictment to be thrown out, saying their defence strategy was hindered by the lack of access to the documentation. | They asked for the indictment to be thrown out, saying their defence strategy was hindered by the lack of access to the documentation. |
| But the presiding judge said defence consultants were present when the DNA tests were carried out by forensic experts. | But the presiding judge said defence consultants were present when the DNA tests were carried out by forensic experts. |
| He added that relevant documents had been made available a month-and-a-half ago, suggesting that defence teams had enough time to review the DNA findings. | He added that relevant documents had been made available a month-and-a-half ago, suggesting that defence teams had enough time to review the DNA findings. |
| Prosecutors said Ms Knox's DNA was found on the handle of a knife that might have been used in the killing, while Ms Kercher's DNA was found on the blade. | Prosecutors said Ms Knox's DNA was found on the handle of a knife that might have been used in the killing, while Ms Kercher's DNA was found on the blade. |
| The knife was discovered at Mr Sollecito's apartment. | The knife was discovered at Mr Sollecito's apartment. |