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| Two on trial over Kercher murder | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The trial of two people accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher is opening in Italy. | |
| American Amanda Knox, 21, and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, have been in jail for more than a year accused of the killing in Perugia. | American Amanda Knox, 21, and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, have been in jail for more than a year accused of the killing in Perugia. |
| A judge will decide on Friday whether their trial should be held in private. | A judge will decide on Friday whether their trial should be held in private. |
| Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was found dead on November 2007. Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, has already been jailed for her murder. | Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was found dead on November 2007. Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, has already been jailed for her murder. |
| Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student was killed as part of a bungled sex game involving Mr Guede, her housemate Miss Knox, from Seattle, and the American's ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari in southern Italy. | Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student was killed as part of a bungled sex game involving Mr Guede, her housemate Miss Knox, from Seattle, and the American's ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari in southern Italy. |
| She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. Amanda Knox's lawyer | She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. Amanda Knox's lawyer |
| Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of a foreign exchange programme. | Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of a foreign exchange programme. |
| Mr Guede, who pleaded guilty to her murder in a "fast-track" trial last year, was jailed for 30 years. | Mr Guede, who pleaded guilty to her murder in a "fast-track" trial last year, was jailed for 30 years. |
| More than 140 members of the press are said to have requested access to the current trial and Miss Knox's legal team are believed to favour an open hearing. | More than 140 members of the press are said to have requested access to the current trial and Miss Knox's legal team are believed to favour an open hearing. |
| They are attempting to block the publication of a book about her written by an Italian journalist. | They are attempting to block the publication of a book about her written by an Italian journalist. |
| Miss Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, confirmed that Miss Knox was seeking 500,000 euros (£450,046) in compensation for damage allegedly already caused by the book and articles published in an Italian daily newspaper. | Miss Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, confirmed that Miss Knox was seeking 500,000 euros (£450,046) in compensation for damage allegedly already caused by the book and articles published in an Italian daily newspaper. |
| He said too much "sensitive information" about the sex life of the Seattle-born foreign exchange student has been published. | He said too much "sensitive information" about the sex life of the Seattle-born foreign exchange student has been published. |
| Mr Ghirga said of his client: "She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. | Mr Ghirga said of his client: "She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. |
| "We still hope she will get a fair trial though." | "We still hope she will get a fair trial though." |
| The trial is expected to last for several months. | The trial is expected to last for several months. |