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Man convicted of Kercher murder Man convicted of Kercher murder
(about 1 hour later)
A 21-year-old man has been jailed for 30 years for murdering British exchange student Meredith Kercher in Italy.A 21-year-old man has been jailed for 30 years for murdering British exchange student Meredith Kercher in Italy.
Rudy Hermann Guede, originally from the Ivory Coast, was found guilty after a trial behind closed doors.Rudy Hermann Guede, originally from the Ivory Coast, was found guilty after a trial behind closed doors.
Miss Kercher, 21, from south London, was found dead at a house she shared in Perugia on 2 November last year. Her throat had been cut.Miss Kercher, 21, from south London, was found dead at a house she shared in Perugia on 2 November last year. Her throat had been cut.
Judge Paolo Micheli also ruled that Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Amanda Knox, 21, should face a murder trial.Judge Paolo Micheli also ruled that Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Amanda Knox, 21, should face a murder trial.
Leeds University student Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, had been in the Umbrian town as part of her European Studies degree.Leeds University student Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, had been in the Umbrian town as part of her European Studies degree.
Prosecutors claimed she was killed as part of a bungled sex game involving Guede, her housemate Miss Knox, from Seattle, and the American's ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari, southern Italy.Prosecutors claimed she was killed as part of a bungled sex game involving Guede, her housemate Miss Knox, from Seattle, and the American's ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari, southern Italy.
Lawyer Francesco Maresca, who represents Miss Kercher's family, spoke after Guede's conviction.Lawyer Francesco Maresca, who represents Miss Kercher's family, spoke after Guede's conviction.
"We are very satisfied, even though this was a young man who faces a very heavy sentence," he said."We are very satisfied, even though this was a young man who faces a very heavy sentence," he said.
Murder weaponMurder weapon
Miss Kercher's partially-clothed body was found under a duvet in her bedroom, which had been locked from the inside.Miss Kercher's partially-clothed body was found under a duvet in her bedroom, which had been locked from the inside.
Guede had opted for a fast-track trial, permissible under Italian law, because he feared the former lovers would form a pact to frame him.Ivorian Rudy Guede had denied any wrongdoing.Guede had opted for a fast-track trial, permissible under Italian law, because he feared the former lovers would form a pact to frame him.Ivorian Rudy Guede had denied any wrongdoing.
He had admitted to being in the house at the time of the murder but, like his co-defendants, denied any wrongdoing.He had admitted to being in the house at the time of the murder but, like his co-defendants, denied any wrongdoing.
His lawyers claimed the murder weapon had been found at Mr Sollecito's house and had Miss Knox's DNA on the handle.His lawyers claimed the murder weapon had been found at Mr Sollecito's house and had Miss Knox's DNA on the handle.
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy, in Perugia, said the trial of Mr Sollecito and Miss Knox would most likely begin in the New Year.The BBC's Duncan Kennedy, in Perugia, said the trial of Mr Sollecito and Miss Knox would most likely begin in the New Year.
He said it was unclear at this stage whether they would remain in prison until then or be released under some form of house arrest.He said it was unclear at this stage whether they would remain in prison until then or be released under some form of house arrest.
The Italian's lawyers have argued he could not have been at the murder scene because he was at home downloading a cartoon at the time.The Italian's lawyers have argued he could not have been at the murder scene because he was at home downloading a cartoon at the time.