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| Meredith Kercher murder: Verdicts due at Italy retrial | Meredith Kercher murder: Verdicts due at Italy retrial |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A court in Italy is due to announce new appeal verdicts for two people accused of the murder of UK student Meredith Kercher in 2007. | |
| US citizen Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were acquitted of the crime on appeal in 2011, after four years in custody. | US citizen Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were acquitted of the crime on appeal in 2011, after four years in custody. |
| But that ruling was dismissed as flawed last year by the supreme court, and a new appeal ordered. | But that ruling was dismissed as flawed last year by the supreme court, and a new appeal ordered. |
| Ms Knox has not returned to Italy for the case. Both plead their innocence. | Ms Knox has not returned to Italy for the case. Both plead their innocence. |
| If they are convicted again, they can lodge appeals with the Court of Cassation (as the supreme court is known formally), which will have the final say. | If they are convicted again, they can lodge appeals with the Court of Cassation (as the supreme court is known formally), which will have the final say. |
| The Court of Cassation overturned their acquittals last March after an appeal by prosecutors, who argued that important DNA evidence had been disregarded. | The Court of Cassation overturned their acquittals last March after an appeal by prosecutors, who argued that important DNA evidence had been disregarded. |
| If Ms Knox is convicted, Italy may face a legal battle to extradite her from the US. | If Ms Knox is convicted, Italy may face a legal battle to extradite her from the US. |
| Prosecutors have asked for a 30-year prison sentence for her and a 26-year sentence for Mr Sollecito. | Prosecutors have asked for a 30-year prison sentence for her and a 26-year sentence for Mr Sollecito. |
| DNA evidence | DNA evidence |
| Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon in south London and 21 at the time, was found with her throat cut in a flat she shared with Ms Knox in the college city of Perugia, in the central region of Umbria. | Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon in south London and 21 at the time, was found with her throat cut in a flat she shared with Ms Knox in the college city of Perugia, in the central region of Umbria. |
| She suffered a "slow, agonising death", a coroner's report found. | She suffered a "slow, agonising death", a coroner's report found. |
| Ivorian drifter Rudy Guede was convicted of her murder at a separate trial and sentenced to 16 years in prison. | Ivorian drifter Rudy Guede was convicted of her murder at a separate trial and sentenced to 16 years in prison. |
| Prosecutors sought to prove Miss Kercher had died in a sex game involving Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito, that had gone wrong. | Prosecutors sought to prove Miss Kercher had died in a sex game involving Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito, that had gone wrong. |
| They pointed to a bra clasp belonging to Miss Kercher where Mr Sollecito's DNA was allegedly found. | They pointed to a bra clasp belonging to Miss Kercher where Mr Sollecito's DNA was allegedly found. |
| They also maintained that Ms Knox's DNA had been on the handle of a kitchen knife used in the attack, with Miss Kercher's DNA on the blade. | They also maintained that Ms Knox's DNA had been on the handle of a kitchen knife used in the attack, with Miss Kercher's DNA on the blade. |
| In addition, traces of Ms Knox's blood and footprints were allegedly found in the house. | In addition, traces of Ms Knox's blood and footprints were allegedly found in the house. |
| Arrested days after the murder, Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito were tried and convicted in November 2009. | Arrested days after the murder, Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito were tried and convicted in November 2009. |
| 'I didn't kill' | 'I didn't kill' |
| In 2011, an eight-member jury cleared both defendants of Miss Kercher's murder after doubts were raised over procedures used to gather DNA evidence. | In 2011, an eight-member jury cleared both defendants of Miss Kercher's murder after doubts were raised over procedures used to gather DNA evidence. |
| Ordering a retrial last year, the Court of Cassation moved proceedings from Umbria to Florence, in the northern region of Tuscany. | Ordering a retrial last year, the Court of Cassation moved proceedings from Umbria to Florence, in the northern region of Tuscany. |
| Last month, Ms Knox, now 26 and living in Seattle, sent a five-page email to the court to explain her reasons for refusing to return to Italy from the US. | Last month, Ms Knox, now 26 and living in Seattle, sent a five-page email to the court to explain her reasons for refusing to return to Italy from the US. |
| "I didn't kill," she wrote. | "I didn't kill," she wrote. |
| "I didn't rape. I didn't rob. I didn't plot. I didn't instigate. I didn't kill Meredith. I am not present in court because I am afraid. | "I didn't rape. I didn't rob. I didn't plot. I didn't instigate. I didn't kill Meredith. I am not present in court because I am afraid. |
| "I am afraid that the vehemence of the prosecution will make an impression on you, that their smoke will get in your eyes and blind you." | "I am afraid that the vehemence of the prosecution will make an impression on you, that their smoke will get in your eyes and blind you." |
| If she is reconvicted of the murder, Ms Knox could fight her extradition to Italy in a US court. | If she is reconvicted of the murder, Ms Knox could fight her extradition to Italy in a US court. |
| If Mr Sollecito, 29, is reconvicted, the court in Florence could ask for him to be arrested or placed under a travel ban pending the Court of Cassation's decision. | If Mr Sollecito, 29, is reconvicted, the court in Florence could ask for him to be arrested or placed under a travel ban pending the Court of Cassation's decision. |
| He told the court in November that it made "no real sense" for him to have committed "such an atrocious act". | He told the court in November that it made "no real sense" for him to have committed "such an atrocious act". |
| He is likely to remain at home to avoid the media scrum when the verdicts are announced, his father was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. | He is likely to remain at home to avoid the media scrum when the verdicts are announced, his father was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. |
| Members of Miss Kercher's family are expected to be in court, the agency adds. | Members of Miss Kercher's family are expected to be in court, the agency adds. |