The Croydon Guardian on the murder of Meredith Kercher

Bloody footprints found at scene of Meredith Kercher slaying

Monday 11th May 2009

Bloodied footprints matched to the murder accused in the Meredith Kercher trial were found at the scene of the crime, a court was told.

Coulsdon student Meredith Kercher was found in her room with her throat cut in Perugia, Italy in November 2007.

Fellow American student Amanda Knox, 21, and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 25, are accused of Miss Kercher’s murder.
A court heard last week how one print was found on a bathmat and three more leading from Miss Kercher’s bedroom to the room of Amanda Knox.

Police scientist Dr Lorenzo Rinaldi told the court the footprints were discovered with a substance called Luminol which turns blue in the presence of blood.

He said the print on the bathmat and one in the corridor matched prints taken from Sollecito.

He added: “"We also found that a naked footprint found in Knox's bedroom and in the corridor outside, again using Luminol, was compatible with the one taken from her in prison."

Rudy Guede, an Ivory Coast drifter, was convicted of Miss Kercher’s murder last year and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

It is alleged Guede tried to sexually assault Miss Kercher and then Miss Knox fatally stabbed her in the throat.
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Coulsdon student Meredith Kercher stabbed from behind, Italian court hears

Wednesday 27th May 2009
Croydonguardian.uk.com

Murder victim Meredith Kercher was stabbed from behind while she was kneeling with her face pushed into the floor, an Italian court heard...

Fellow student, American Amanda Knox, 21, and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 25, are accused of murdering her because she refused to take place in a drug-fuelled orgy.
They deny the charge.

Expert Dr Francesco Camana told the court the blood pattern showed when Miss Kercher was fatally knifed in the throat she was no more than 40cm from the floor. He said: “She was kneeling down facing the wardrobe, her face pressed almost to the floor, with her chest pushed forward and her legs behind her.”

The court in Perugia had been told earlier Miss Knox’s DNA was found on the handle of a kitchen knife while Miss Kercher’s DNA was on the tip. The traces were found on the black-handled kitchen knife, which the court was told is compatible with the murder weapon, after it was found at Sollecito's flat.

The court has also been told Mr Sollecito’s DNA was discovered on a bra clasp belonging to Miss Kercher which was found at the scene.

Defence lawyers claim the DNA evidence is tainted. The trial is expected to last until the end of this year.
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For MUCH detail on this case, check out these websites, one against Amanda and Raffeale, one for their defense, and one seemingly on the edge:

PERUGIA SHOCK
True Justice for Meredith Kercher
Friends of Amanda

It is interesting following the different views of this case. On the pro-Amanda side, and per U.S. forensics standards, the Italians don't have a very good case. Amanda's DNA in her own home is not unusual, nor would her DNA on a knife at her boyfriends house, if she ever cooked there. However, the Italians do not regurgitate evidence like we do in the States, broadcasting every minute detail including autopsy reports, etc.
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But if the truth was completely out, it would be told that Amanda is in up to her cooch in crime, by the fact that a tampon was removed from the box in the bathroom and shoved in the wound in Meredith's neck. That is the reason for the forensic sampling from the "cotton-flock" box in the bathroom.
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For the life of me, I can't imagine that a man would think to do that. Why would a woman, but especially, why would a man? It looks like Amanda will be in her 50's when she is finally able to go home.
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I wonder if the roommates have testified yet about living with Amanda and Meredith.