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Kercher murder trial: Forensic evidence review call Kercher judge orders new DNA test on knife
(about 5 hours later)
Defence lawyers have demanded forensic evidence be re-examined in the retrial of two suspects over the 2007 murder of Briton Meredith Kercher in Italy. The Italian judge hearing the retrial of Amanda Knox and and Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of Meredith Kercher has ordered a new DNA test on a knife allegedly used in the killing.
American Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty but acquitted on appeal in 2011. The two suspects spent four years in jail for the 2007 murder, but their convictions were overturned on appeal.
But that ruling was overturned in March by Italy's highest court, amid strong criticism of the way the appeals court had dismissed important DNA evidence. That ruling was itself overturned in March by Italy's highest court.
The suspects have always insisted they are innocent. Neither was in court. A separate trial convicted Rudy Guede from Ivory Coast of Miss Kercher's murder. He is serving 16 years in jail.
The second appeals hearing is being held at a court in the central Italian city of Florence. Neither the American Amanda Knox, nor her Italian former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were in court for the start of the hearing in Florence.
The appellate court is expected to re-examine forensic evidence to determine whether Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend helped kill the 21-year-old British student, while the two women shared an apartment in Perugia. Ms Knox was the housemate of Miss Kercher - a 21-year-old Briton who was found in their student lodgings in Perugia with her throat slashed.
At the first session on Monday defence lawyers called for new tests to be carried out on DNA on the alleged murder weapon and semen stains from the crime scene. 'Justice for Meredith'
Lawyers for Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito told the court the tests were necessary to clear the defendants. Miss Kercher's sister Stephanie wrote to the court to express the family's feelings, nearly six years on from the brutal killing.
"We need a key step forward on the DNA evidence. We insist the traces on the knife be re-examined," Ms Knox's lawyer Luciano Girgha told judge Alessandro Nencini. "We desperately want to discover the truth," she wrote, "and find justice for Meredith."
"We want the truth," he said. Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon in south London, was an undergraduate at the University of Leeds and was studying on an exchange programme at the University of Perugia at the time of her death.
Speaking outside the court, lawyer Francesco Maresca, who is representing Miss Kercher's family, said: "We are convinced of the guilt of Amanda and Raffaele, of their presence on the scene of the crime." Prosecutors believe she died in a drug-fuelled sexual assault.
The final hearing of this new appeals trial is expected in November, paving the way for a verdict as early as December. At the first session on Monday, lawyers for the two accused requested an array of new testimony and evidence be considered by the court.
The presiding judge, Alessandro Nencini, rejected most of the defence's requests, but agreed to test for DNA on a kitchen knife which the prosecution says was used in the murder.
The first appeals trial, which cleared the two suspects, rejected considering any DNA evidence from the knife, saying the trace was too small to analyse.
The judge also agreed to the prosecution's request to hear again from a jailed gangster, who has accused his brother of murdering Miss Kercher. He will testify on Friday.
The final hearing of this new trial is expected in November, paving the way for a verdict as early as December.
'Everything at stake''Everything at stake'
Both Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito maintain their innocence.
Ms Knox insists that on the night of Miss Kercher's death she was at Mr Sollecito's flat, smoking marijuana and watching a film.
Ms Knox, 26, has exercised her right to stay away from the court, and remains at home in the US city of Seattle.Ms Knox, 26, has exercised her right to stay away from the court, and remains at home in the US city of Seattle.
Earlier this month, she said she expected to win another acquittal, but that "common sense" told her not to return to Italy.Earlier this month, she said she expected to win another acquittal, but that "common sense" told her not to return to Italy.
"I was already imprisoned as an innocent person in Italy," she told America's NBC television. "I just can't relive that.""I was already imprisoned as an innocent person in Italy," she told America's NBC television. "I just can't relive that."
"I thought about what it would be like to live my entire life in prison and to lose everything, to lose what I've been able to come back to and rebuild."I thought about what it would be like to live my entire life in prison and to lose everything, to lose what I've been able to come back to and rebuild.
"I think about it all the time. It's so scary. Everything is at stake.''"I think about it all the time. It's so scary. Everything is at stake.''
However, if her previous conviction is confirmed, Italy would be expected to request her extradition. However, if her previous conviction were to be confirmed, Italy would be expected to request her extradition.
Mr Sollecito, 29, has been living in the Dominican Republic, but it has been reported that he intends to return to Italy to attend parts of the retrial. Mr Sollecito, 29, is currently in the Dominican Republic, but it has been reported that he intends to return to Italy to attend parts of the retrial.
Meredith Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was found dead in a flat she shared in Perugia with Ms Knox, a fellow exchange student.
Prosecutors said Miss Kercher, who had been repeatedly stabbed, died in a drug-fuelled sexual assault. She was 21.
Both Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito maintain their innocence.
Ms Knox insists that on the night of Miss Kercher's death she was at Mr Sollecito's flat, smoking marijuana and watching a film.
Another man - Rudy Guede from Ivory Coast - was convicted in a separate trial and sentenced to 16 years for the killing.