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Kercher trial reaches the court Kercher trial reaches the court
(about 1 hour later)
Amanda Knox appeared in the court 10 months after Meredith Kercher's death By Emma Wallis BBC News, Rome After 10 months, preliminary hearings into the killing of British student Meredith Kercher are under way. So what happens next in the high-profile case?Amanda Knox appeared in the court 10 months after Meredith Kercher's death By Emma Wallis BBC News, Rome After 10 months, preliminary hearings into the killing of British student Meredith Kercher are under way. So what happens next in the high-profile case?
The murder of Meredith Kercher on 1 November sent shock waves around the world last year.The murder of Meredith Kercher on 1 November sent shock waves around the world last year.
Local police in Perugia, a small university town of 40,000 students, led an investigation to find her killer or killers.Local police in Perugia, a small university town of 40,000 students, led an investigation to find her killer or killers.
After 10 months of a mock trial by media, the wheels of Italian justice slowly ground into motion when the first preliminary hearing got under way as Judge Paolo Micheli called all three suspects and their legal team before him in a closed court. After 10 months of a trial by media, the wheels of Italian justice slowly ground into motion when the first preliminary hearing got under way as Judge Paolo Micheli called all three suspects and their legal team before him in a closed court.
Meredith’s murder still appears to be largely motiveless. The cause and exact time of her death don’t seem to have been established with precision and the defence teams have been capitalizing on this. Miss Kercher's murder still appears to be largely motiveless. The cause and exact time of her death don’t seem to have been established with precision and the defence teams have been capitalising on this.
Rudy Guede is expected to seek a separate trialRudy Guede is expected to seek a separate trial
For the prosecution though, the three suspects in the frame are still Meredith’s former housemate, American Amanda Knox, her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito and Ivory Coast-born Perugian Rudy Guede. For the prosecution though, the three suspects in the frame are still her former housemate, American Amanda Knox, and her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and Ivory Coast-born Perugian Rudy Guede.
Mr Sollecito was notably absent from the hearing. Mr Sollecito was absent from Tuesday's hearing.
In the weeks after the preliminary hearings, the three are expected to be charged with murder, sexual violence and theft.In the weeks after the preliminary hearings, the three are expected to be charged with murder, sexual violence and theft.
But the hearings are expected to establish the strength of the prosecution case and whether they can really stand up these charges.But the hearings are expected to establish the strength of the prosecution case and whether they can really stand up these charges.
All three suspects maintain their innocence, but reports of their initial statements appear to conflict with each other and later testaments. All three suspects maintain their innocence, but reports of their initial statements appear to conflict with each other and later testimonies.
Mr Guede, however, has admitted to being present in the house the night Miss Kercher died and DNA evidence reportedly confirms that.Mr Guede, however, has admitted to being present in the house the night Miss Kercher died and DNA evidence reportedly confirms that.
He has been in prison since December, when he was extradited from Germany after fleeing there soon after the killing.He has been in prison since December, when he was extradited from Germany after fleeing there soon after the killing.
His defence team last week requested that he stand alone in a fast-track trial. The family just hope justice will soon be done for Meredith Meredith Kercher's sister StephanieHis defence team last week requested that he stand alone in a fast-track trial. The family just hope justice will soon be done for Meredith Meredith Kercher's sister Stephanie
If that wish is granted no witnesses would be called and, if found guilty, Mr Guede could expect to have an eventual sentence reduced by up to a third.If that wish is granted no witnesses would be called and, if found guilty, Mr Guede could expect to have an eventual sentence reduced by up to a third.
In their first interviews with British television a day before the hearing, Amanda Knox’s parents insisted on their daughter’s complete innocence. In their first interviews with British television, a day before the hearing, Amanda Knox’s parents insisted on their daughter’s complete innocence.
They claim her statements were obtained under emotional duress and initially without a lawyer present; a charge the police refute, while not commenting officially on the case. They claim her statements were obtained under emotional duress and initially without a lawyer present; a charge the police deny, while not commenting officially on the case.
Some predict the trial will start by November, a year after the killing and as the deadline expires for holding suspects without charge under Italian law.Some predict the trial will start by November, a year after the killing and as the deadline expires for holding suspects without charge under Italian law.
Whilst the judges hold the ultimate power, the case has been played out in the media over a period of months.There is still no obvious motive for Meredith Kercher's murder While the judges hold the ultimate power, the case has been played out in the media over a period of months.There is still no obvious motive for Meredith Kercher's murder
Public opinion in Italy, the US and the UK was transfixed as hypothesis of sex, drugs and perverted violence unfolded as mode and motive for the murder. The public in Italy, the US and the UK were transfixed as a hypothesis of sex, drugs and perverted violence unfolded as mode and motive for the murder.
The defence teams have worked hard to change initial perceptions of their clients as drug-taking, fantasy-filled sex addicts, searching for extreme experiences.The defence teams have worked hard to change initial perceptions of their clients as drug-taking, fantasy-filled sex addicts, searching for extreme experiences.
Lawyers have repeatedly criticised the way the police carried out their investigations.Lawyers have repeatedly criticised the way the police carried out their investigations.
Leading Italian criminologist and consultant to Mr Sollecito's team, Francesco Bruno told the BBC that Italian police are incapable of handling mysterious deaths. Leading Italian criminologist and consultant to Mr Sollecito's team, Francesco Bruno, told the BBC that Italian police were incapable of handling mysterious deaths.
He said they bring in the forensic teams far too late, when the crime scenes have already been irrevocably damaged and crucial evidence lost. He says they bring in the forensic teams far too late, when the crime scenes have already been irrevocably damaged and crucial evidence lost.
The police maintain that they followed international protocol on the gathering of evidence, but forensic experts brought in for the defence contest that. The police maintain that they followed international protocol on the gathering of evidence, but experts brought in for the defence contest that.
Meanwhile, Meredith's family are in Perugia. Meanwhile, Miss Kercher's family are in Perugia.
Her sister Stephanie spoke on behalf of all of them, voicing their relief that the case had finally entered the courtroom and their hope that "justice will soon be done for Meredith".Her sister Stephanie spoke on behalf of all of them, voicing their relief that the case had finally entered the courtroom and their hope that "justice will soon be done for Meredith".