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Kercher accused begins evidence | Kercher accused begins evidence |
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An American woman accused of killing British exchange student Meredith Kercher has started to give evidence at her murder trial in Italy. | An American woman accused of killing British exchange student Meredith Kercher has started to give evidence at her murder trial in Italy. |
Amanda Knox, 21, told the court in Perugia she had been "under pressure" when she wrongly implicated ex-bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder. | Amanda Knox, 21, told the court in Perugia she had been "under pressure" when she wrongly implicated ex-bar owner Patrick Lumumba in the murder. |
Ms Kercher, 21, of Surrey, was found stabbed to death at the apartment she shared with Ms Knox in November 2007. | |
Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, deny murder. | Ms Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, deny murder. |
Giving evidence to a packed courtroom, Ms Knox explained why she had originally pointed the finger of blame at Mr Lumumba. | |
"Everything [I] said was said in confusion and under pressure," she said. "They [the officers questioning me] were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was 'OK, Patrick'." | "Everything [I] said was said in confusion and under pressure," she said. "They [the officers questioning me] were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was 'OK, Patrick'." |
Throat cut | Throat cut |
She told the court that before she named Mr Lumumba, officers had accused her of trying to protect someone. | She told the court that before she named Mr Lumumba, officers had accused her of trying to protect someone. |
"When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said. | "When I denied that, they called me a stupid liar," she said. |
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 one-and-a-half years ago. | 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 one-and-a-half years ago. |
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. |
A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing. | A third person, Rudy Guede, has been jailed for 30 years for the killing. |