Kercher trial moves into final stages
Prosecutors in Italy today began their closing arguments in the Meredith Kercher murder trial.
Former room mate American Amanda Knox and Knox’s Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito both deny killing exchange student Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey in England, at the home she rented in Perugia.
Both have been held in jail for more than two years since the murder and were in court today.
The eight-member jury is expected to issue a verdict in early December.
Knox and Sollecito could face Italy’s stiffest punishment, life imprisonment, if convicted.
Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini reconstructed what he says happened on the night of November 1, 2007, when 21-year-old Miss Kercher was killed.
As he opened his remarks, Mr Mignini focused on a key prosecution argument that Knox and Sollecito broke one of the apartment’s windows from the inside to stage a burglary.
A stone was found in one of the bedrooms, and witnesses have said that shattered glass was found all over clothes lying on the floor, suggesting the glass was broken after the room was disturbed.
“The key to the mystery is in that room,” Mr Mignini said, adding that it would be nearly impossible to climb that window and enter without hurting oneself and leaving blood traces on the shattered glass.
Also, he argued, that window was the most exposed of the apartment, making it an unlikely choice for a burglar. Nothing in the room with the broken glass, which belonged to one of Knox’s and Miss Kercher’s roommates, was reported missing, he noted.
Prosecutors were expected to formally make their sentencing requests to the eight-member jury tomorrow.
A third man, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year for Miss Kercher’s murder in a fast-track trial he was granted at his request. He also denies wrongdoing and is appealing his conviction.
Prosecutors say Miss Kercher was killed during what began as a sex game.
Defence lawyers for Knox and Sollecito are working on the theory that Guede was the sole attacker.
The 22-year-old Knox maintains she spent the night of the murder at Sollecito’s house in Perugia.
Sollecito ,25, has said he was home working at his computer that night. He said he does not remember if Knox spent the whole night with him or just part of it.
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