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Kercher accused 'had no emotion' | Kercher accused 'had no emotion' |
(10 minutes later) | |
The American woman charged with the murder of British student Meredith Kercher showed no emotion over the death, an Italian court has heard. | The American woman charged with the murder of British student Meredith Kercher showed no emotion over the death, an Italian court has heard. |
Robyn Butterworth, a British friend of Miss Kercher, said she found Amanda Knox's behaviour "very strange". | Robyn Butterworth, a British friend of Miss Kercher, said she found Amanda Knox's behaviour "very strange". |
She said she did not cry and was "joking, kissing and cuddling" with her co-accused ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito. | She said she did not cry and was "joking, kissing and cuddling" with her co-accused ex-lover Raffaele Sollecito. |
Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, near London, was found stabbed to death at a flat she shared with Miss Knox in 2007. | Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, near London, was found stabbed to death at a flat she shared with Miss Knox in 2007. |
Both Miss Knox, 21, and Italian Mr Sollecito, 24, deny the murder charges. | Both Miss Knox, 21, and Italian Mr Sollecito, 24, deny the murder charges. |
'Fooling around' | 'Fooling around' |
Miss Butterworth is one of four British students expected to give evidence at the court in Perugia, central Italy, on Friday. | Miss Butterworth is one of four British students expected to give evidence at the court in Perugia, central Italy, on Friday. |
She said a group of friends had gathered at the police station just hours after Miss Kercher's body had been found. | |
"I found Amanda's behaviour very strange and I found it quite difficult to be around her," she said. | "I found Amanda's behaviour very strange and I found it quite difficult to be around her," she said. |
"We were all crying. I didn't see her crying." | "We were all crying. I didn't see her crying." |
Meredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programme | Meredith Kercher was in Perugia as part of an exchange programme |
Speaking through a translator, she said Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were "fooling around" as they waited to see police. | Speaking through a translator, she said Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito were "fooling around" as they waited to see police. |
"I remember Amanda sticking her tongue out at Raffaele," she added. "They were talking and joking, kissing and cuddling." | "I remember Amanda sticking her tongue out at Raffaele," she added. "They were talking and joking, kissing and cuddling." |
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said this was the first time "close witnesses" to the case had given evidence. | The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said this was the first time "close witnesses" to the case had given evidence. |
He also said Miss Knox stood up and addressed the court in Italian, saying: "I am innocent and I have faith in the system". | He also said Miss Knox stood up and addressed the court in Italian, saying: "I am innocent and I have faith in the system". |
He added it was the prosecution's case the pair were "cold-blooded murderers" who killed Miss Kercher in a sex game, but Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito claim they were at his house working on the computer. | He added it was the prosecution's case the pair were "cold-blooded murderers" who killed Miss Kercher in a sex game, but Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito claim they were at his house working on the computer. |
Miss Knox and Miss Kercher were studying in the Umbrian hilltop town of Perugia at the time of the murder on 2 November 2007. | Miss Knox and Miss Kercher were studying in the Umbrian hilltop town of Perugia at the time of the murder on 2 November 2007. |
Miss Kercher's semi-naked body was found in her bedroom in the shared cottage. Her throat had been cut. | Miss Kercher's semi-naked body was found in her bedroom in the shared cottage. Her throat had been cut. |
Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito have been held for 15 months awaiting the trial, which is expected to last at least until summer. | Miss Knox and Mr Sollecito have been held for 15 months awaiting the trial, which is expected to last at least until summer. |
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. |
He opted for a fast-track trial, separate from the other defendants. | He opted for a fast-track trial, separate from the other defendants. |