This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/20/meredith-kercher-murder-raffaele-sollectio-cash-retrial
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Meredith Kercher murder: Raffaele Sollecito appeals for cash to fund retrial | Meredith Kercher murder: Raffaele Sollecito appeals for cash to fund retrial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Raffaele Sollecito, the Italian man facing a retrial for the murder of the British exchange student Meredith Kercher, has launched a crowd-funding project to cover his legal fees, saying he no longer has the money to fight his "ordeal". | |
| Along with Amanda Knox, his American ex-girlfriend, Sollecito was convicted then acquitted in 2011 of the murder of the 21-year-old in the Umbrian university town of Perugia four years earlier. However, Italy's highest appeals court overturned their acquittal in March and ordered a fresh appeal to take place in Florence this year. | Along with Amanda Knox, his American ex-girlfriend, Sollecito was convicted then acquitted in 2011 of the murder of the 21-year-old in the Umbrian university town of Perugia four years earlier. However, Italy's highest appeals court overturned their acquittal in March and ordered a fresh appeal to take place in Florence this year. |
| Sollecito, who denies any wrongdoing, says he is deeply concerned he will not be able to pay for the forthcoming legal battle, which he fears may span up to seven years. | Sollecito, who denies any wrongdoing, says he is deeply concerned he will not be able to pay for the forthcoming legal battle, which he fears may span up to seven years. |
| "The problem for me now is pretty tough," the 29-year-old writes on a GoFundMe webpage created on Wednesday. "I am deeply concerned, not just for the issue I am facing, which most of you already know about, but also because I do not have financial resources any more to fight this injustice. | |
| "I badly need to be able to hire experts when needed, pay my attorneys [sic] fees, documents fees, and so on when the new appeal begins. I do not wish to bother you, but I am asking for your collaboration to face this ordeal. I do not want to be forced to give up my fight for freedom just for financial reasons." | "I badly need to be able to hire experts when needed, pay my attorneys [sic] fees, documents fees, and so on when the new appeal begins. I do not wish to bother you, but I am asking for your collaboration to face this ordeal. I do not want to be forced to give up my fight for freedom just for financial reasons." |
| Sollecito said he would use funds received through the website for costs connected with the trial. Any surplus money would be donated to a research foundation, which he did not name. He has raised $4,030 (£2,610); his goal is $500,000. | |
| In reasoning released this week, judges at the Italian supreme court made clear their belief that the fresh trial should return to the possibility that Kercher, a Leeds University student beginning a year of overseas study, was killed by more than one person. They said the decision to acquit Knox and Sollecito had been based on a case riddled with shortcomings and illogical conclusions. | In reasoning released this week, judges at the Italian supreme court made clear their belief that the fresh trial should return to the possibility that Kercher, a Leeds University student beginning a year of overseas study, was killed by more than one person. They said the decision to acquit Knox and Sollecito had been based on a case riddled with shortcomings and illogical conclusions. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |