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Hunt for British student's killer Hunt for British student's killer
(about 5 hours later)
Italian police have launched a manhunt after a British student living in Italy was found dead with her throat cut.Italian police have launched a manhunt after a British student living in Italy was found dead with her throat cut.
The body of Meredith Kercher, 21, from Croydon, south London, was found in the bedroom of her apartment in Perugia.The body of Meredith Kercher, 21, from Croydon, south London, was found in the bedroom of her apartment in Perugia.
The Leeds University student had gone to see a film at a friend's house but went home alone.The Leeds University student had gone to see a film at a friend's house but went home alone.
The British Embassy in Rome said next of kin had been informed. The Foreign Office said it was working with Italian authorities to investigate the death.The British Embassy in Rome said next of kin had been informed. The Foreign Office said it was working with Italian authorities to investigate the death.
Miss Kercher, who is believed to have lived with three other women, had been in the third year of a four-year European Studies degree and went to Italy on a one-year exchange.Miss Kercher, who is believed to have lived with three other women, had been in the third year of a four-year European Studies degree and went to Italy on a one-year exchange.
Locked door Lost phone
Police believe Miss Kercher left her apartment on Thursday night to go to a friend's house and returned alone.Police believe Miss Kercher left her apartment on Thursday night to go to a friend's house and returned alone.
Two of her flatmates returned late on Friday morning to find their front door slightly ajar. An Italian police investigation into the murder is in full swing
Police said they went to the apartment after they found a mobile phone - thought to belong to the victim - in a nearby garden. Officers discovered her partially naked body in her bedroom on Friday afternoon. She had had her throat cut and was found under a duvet.
They forced open Miss Kercher's locked bedroom door to find her body, with a deep cut in her throat, underneath a mattress at about 1330 local time. Miss Kercher's mobile phone had gone missing and was found in a nearby garden, which led police to her apartment.
Smashed window Police have ruled out a call made on the phone around the time that it went missing as a prank.
Officers are investigating the significance of a second phone which was found next to Miss Kercher's.
Missing key
BBC correspondent Christian Fraser said the door to the bedroom in which she was found had been locked from the inside and it is thought the murderer may have left through a broken window.BBC correspondent Christian Fraser said the door to the bedroom in which she was found had been locked from the inside and it is thought the murderer may have left through a broken window.
Central to the police investigation is a woman who received a threatening phone call from Miss Kercher's phone on Thursday night.
Police are also keen to trace an Italian boyfriend and a missing key used to lock Miss Kercher's door, and have recovered a bloodstained handkerchief from close to the apartment.Police are also keen to trace an Italian boyfriend and a missing key used to lock Miss Kercher's door, and have recovered a bloodstained handkerchief from close to the apartment.
We are deeply shocked at this terrible news University of Leeds spokeswomanWe are deeply shocked at this terrible news University of Leeds spokeswoman
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that a British national was found dead in her apartment.A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that a British national was found dead in her apartment.
"Our consular staff are in Perugia to liaise with the Italian authorities and to provide the necessary consular assistance. The circumstances of the death are under investigation by the Italian police.""Our consular staff are in Perugia to liaise with the Italian authorities and to provide the necessary consular assistance. The circumstances of the death are under investigation by the Italian police."
According to local reports Miss Kercher had been based in Perugia since last August.According to local reports Miss Kercher had been based in Perugia since last August.
Perugia, which is in the Umbria region, is home to a large community of foreign students. A spokeswoman for the University of Leeds said: "We are deeply shocked at this terrible news, and our thoughts are with Meredith's family and friends."Perugia, which is in the Umbria region, is home to a large community of foreign students. A spokeswoman for the University of Leeds said: "We are deeply shocked at this terrible news, and our thoughts are with Meredith's family and friends."