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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Kercher case to be held in public | Kercher case to be held in public |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A judge has ruled the trial of two suspects for the murder of Meredith Kercher will be heard in public. | |
| American Amanda Knox, 21, and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, appeared in front of an eight-member jury in a courthouse in Perugia, Italy. | |
| A lawyer for the Kercher family, who are from south London, had tried to bar the press and public to stop some evidence being made public. | |
| Judge Paolo Micheli reserved the right to hold some sessions in private. | Judge Paolo Micheli reserved the right to hold some sessions in private. |
| He said the court would decide on a case-by-case basis when to do this. | He said the court would decide on a case-by-case basis when to do this. |
| As the trial began the defendants were seated next to their lawyers and guarded by prison officers. | As the trial began the defendants were seated next to their lawyers and guarded by prison officers. |
| Miss Knox wore jeans and a striped top. | Miss Knox wore jeans and a striped top. |
| During proceedings, she smiled and chatted with an interpreter, while Mr Sollecito, wearing beige trousers and a bright green sweater, looked tense. | During proceedings, she smiled and chatted with an interpreter, while Mr Sollecito, wearing beige trousers and a bright green sweater, looked tense. |
| Both deny the murder of 21-year-old Meredith, found stabbed to death in November 2007 in the apartment she shared with Knox. | Both deny the murder of 21-year-old Meredith, found stabbed to death in November 2007 in the apartment she shared with Knox. |
| Meredith Kercher's partially-clothed body was found locked in her bedroom | Meredith Kercher's partially-clothed body was found locked in her bedroom |
| A third suspect - 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast - was jailed last October for 30 years. | A third suspect - 21-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast - was jailed last October for 30 years. |
| Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student 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 in southern Italy. | Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student 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 in southern Italy. |
| Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme. | Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of the Erasmus student exchange programme. |
| Miss Knox's family are trying to block the publication of a book about the murder case written by an Italian journalist. | Miss Knox's family are trying to block the publication of a book about the murder case written by an Italian journalist. |
| Before the trial started, Miss Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, confirmed that his client 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. | Before the trial started, Miss Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, confirmed that his client 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 had been published. | He said too much "sensitive information" about the sex life of the Seattle-born foreign exchange student had been published. |
| Mr Ghirga said: "She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. | Mr Ghirga said: "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." |
| A large number of journalists from the national and international press have descended on Perugia for the beginning of the trial, which could last up to a year. | A large number of journalists from the national and international press have descended on Perugia for the beginning of the trial, which could last up to a year. |