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British student murdered in Italy | British student murdered in Italy |
(40 minutes later) | |
A British student living in Italy who was found dead with her throat cut has been named as Meredith Kercher, 22. | A British student living in Italy who was found dead with her throat cut has been named as Meredith Kercher, 22. |
The body of Ms Kercher, from Croydon in south London, was found in her bedroom in her apartment in Perugia. | The body of Ms Kercher, from Croydon in south London, was found in her bedroom in her apartment in Perugia. |
The Leeds University student had been to a party with some friends but had gone home alone. | The Leeds University student had been to a party with some friends but had gone home alone. |
The British Embassy in Rome said next of kin had been informed. The Foreign Office said it was working with Italian authorities to investigate the death. | The British Embassy in Rome said next of kin had been informed. The Foreign Office said it was working with Italian authorities to investigate the death. |
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that a British national was found dead in her apartment. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that a British national was found dead in her apartment. |
"Our consular staff are in Perugia to liaise with the Italian authorities and to provide the necessary consular assistance. | "Our consular staff are in Perugia to liaise with the Italian authorities and to provide the necessary consular assistance. |
"The circumstances of the death are under investigation by the Italian police." | "The circumstances of the death are under investigation by the Italian police." |
Ms Kercher is believed to have lived with three other women and her body was found on Friday at about 1330 local time. | Ms Kercher is believed to have lived with three other women and her body was found on Friday at about 1330 local time. |
According to local reports, she had been based in Perugia since last August. | According to local reports, she had been based in Perugia since last August. |
Foreign students | Foreign students |
Police believe that she left her apartment on Thursday night to watch a film at a friend's house, and returned alone. | Police believe that she left her apartment on Thursday night to watch a film at a friend's house, and returned alone. |
It is understood that her body was found by the police after they checked a mobile phone - thought to belong to the victim - which was found in a nearby garden. | It is understood that her body was found by the police after they checked a mobile phone - thought to belong to the victim - which was found in a nearby garden. |
When they arrived at the apartment, police removed a bloodstained handkerchief. | When they arrived at the apartment, police removed a bloodstained handkerchief. |
As they turned up, two of Ms Kercher's friends were in the property, unaware that anything was amiss. | As they turned up, two of Ms Kercher's friends were in the property, unaware that anything was amiss. |
They forced her bedroom door to find Ms Kercher's body naked underneath a mattress. | They forced her bedroom door to find Ms Kercher's body naked underneath a mattress. |
BBC correspondent Christian Fraser said the door to the bedroom where she was found had been locked from the inside. | BBC correspondent Christian Fraser said the door to the bedroom where she was found had been locked from the inside. |
We are deeply shocked at this terrible news University of Leeds spokeswoman | |
"That would suggest that the murderer left through the window," he said. | "That would suggest that the murderer left through the window," he said. |
Perugia, which is in the Umbria region, is home to a large community of foreign students. | Perugia, which is in the Umbria region, is home to a large community of foreign students. |
A team of forensic detectives from Rome have been dispatched to the scene, | A team of forensic detectives from Rome have been dispatched to the scene, |
Central to their inquiries will be a woman who said she had received threatening calls from Ms Kercher's phone. | Central to their inquiries will be a woman who said she had received threatening calls from Ms Kercher's phone. |
Ms Kercher had been in the third year of a four-year European Studies degree. | |
She went to Italy on a one-year exchange as part of the Erasmus programme. | |
A spokeswoman for the University of Leeds said: "We are deeply shocked at this terrible news, and our thoughts are with Meredith's family and friends." |