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Kercher family arrives for trial Mother's horror at Kercher murder
(about 18 hours later)
The family of murdered Meredith Kercher have arrived in Italy to give evidence in the trial of her alleged killers. The mother of murdered exchange student Meredith Kercher has said she will never get over the shock and "brutality" of her daughter's death.
Her parents, John and Arline Kercher, are expected to tell the court about the last telephone conversation they had with their daughter. Arline Kercher, 63, told an Italian court she desperately missed and "still looked for" the 21 year old.
Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and his ex-girlfriend, American Amanda Knox, 21, deny the 2007 murder in Perugia. Prosecutors say Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was killed in a violent sex attack in Perugia in 2007.
Prosecutors in Italy say 21-year-old Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was killed in a violent sex attack. Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and his ex-girlfriend, American Amanda Knox, 21, deny murder.
Miss Kercher's family joined the trial as civil plaintiffs and will testify at the request of their lawyer but are not expected to contribute new evidence. Mrs Kercher, who was accompanied by her husband John, described her daughter as a "conscientious" student.
On Saturday her parents are expected to tell the court about the life their daughter, known as Mez, led as a student in the town. It is such a shock to send your child to school and for them to not come back - we will never, never get over it Arline Kercher
Ms Kercher, a Leeds University student, had been studying and living in the Umbrian university city of Perugia when she was killed on 1 November 2007. "Her death was unbelievable, unreal. In many ways it still is. I still look for her," Mrs Kercher told the court.
"It's not just the death, but the nature of it, the brutality of it, the violence.
"It is such a shock to send your child to school and for them to not come back. We will never, never get over it."
Last phone call
Meredith Kercher, a Leeds University student, had been studying and living in the Umbrian university city of Perugia when she was killed on 1 November 2007.
She shared a house with Ms Knox, who was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington.She shared a house with Ms Knox, who was on a student exchange from Seattle's University of Washington.
Ms Kercher's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house on 2 November. Her throat had been cut.Ms Kercher's body was discovered in the bedroom of the house on 2 November. Her throat had been cut.
The dead woman's parents did not comment as they entered court, while Miss Kercher's sister Stephanie said only she felt "anxious" ahead of the hearing. Addressing the court on Saturday, her mother described the last telephone conversation she had with her daughter.
'Rather emotional' "She rang to let me know when she was coming back," Mrs Kercher said.
The Kerchers' lawyer, Francesco Maresca, made a short statement to the press during a break in proceedings. "She said she was really tired because they had been out for Halloween the night before and they had come back very late and she was going to see some friends to see a film."
Explaining the family's role in the trial, Mr Maresca said: "They can illustrate the personality of a girl in her 20s, who was killed the way she was. She added: "She was coming back early - she had an essay to finish."
"They were rather emotional, I think that's inevitable. Everything contributes to their remembering inevitably their daughter and sister." Mrs Kercher joined the trial as a civil plaintiff, and testified at the request of her lawyer.
The first evidence on Friday was presented behind closed doors as graphic images of the killing were shown to the court. Last year a third person, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the killing and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He had admitted to being in the house at the time of the murder but denied any wrongdoing.
The trial was adjourned until Saturday. His lawyer Walter Biscotti, representing Guede - who is 22 and from Ivory Coast - announced on Friday that his appeal hearing would begin on 18 November.
Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, 22, was found guilty of the murder in October last year and sentenced to 30 years following a fast-track trial.
His lawyer Walter Biscotti, representing Guede, announced on Friday that his appeal hearing would begin on 18 November.