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Fourth Meredith suspect in court | Fourth Meredith suspect in court |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A fourth person arrested in connection with the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy has appeared in court in Germany. | |
Rudy Hermann Guede, 20, will be held while extradition proceedings take place, the judge ruled. | |
Mr Guede was detained on Tuesday after travelling without a ticket on a train bound for Frankfurt. | |
One of three others being held over the murder, Diya "Patrick" Lumumba, has been released by Italian police. | One of three others being held over the murder, Diya "Patrick" Lumumba, has been released by Italian police. |
Prosecutors in Koblenz, Germany, will now begin the formal extradition proceedings, and Mr Guede is expected to be sent to Italy in one week. | |
'Innocent' | |
Mr Guede had told the court he had not been involved in Miss Kercher's death, but would not fight his extradition, prosecutors' spokesman Karl-Rudolf Winkler said. | |
Italian detectives had launched a hunt for Mr Guede, who has dual Italian and Ivory Coast nationality, after identifying him as a suspect on Monday. | Italian detectives had launched a hunt for Mr Guede, who has dual Italian and Ivory Coast nationality, after identifying him as a suspect on Monday. |
Officials said he was arrested in the western German city of Mainz by Interpol on an international warrant. | Officials said he was arrested in the western German city of Mainz by Interpol on an international warrant. |
He faces charges over the murder and sexual assault on 1 November of Miss Kercher, 21, of Coulsdon, south London, who was found with her throat cut in the central Italian city of Perugia. | He faces charges over the murder and sexual assault on 1 November of Miss Kercher, 21, of Coulsdon, south London, who was found with her throat cut in the central Italian city of Perugia. |
I would like to thank the German police very much because...they arrested the Ivorian man who was wanted in a savage murder in Perugia Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi | I would like to thank the German police very much because...they arrested the Ivorian man who was wanted in a savage murder in Perugia Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi |
Miss Kercher's American roommate, Amanda Marie Knox, 20, and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 23, are also being held. | Miss Kercher's American roommate, Amanda Marie Knox, 20, and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 23, are also being held. |
They both deny any involvement, but under Italian law can be held for up to a year. | They both deny any involvement, but under Italian law can be held for up to a year. |
Mr Lumumba, 38, a Congolese bar owner, was released from prison in Rome on Tuesday, two weeks after he was remanded in custody by a judge. | Mr Lumumba, 38, a Congolese bar owner, was released from prison in Rome on Tuesday, two weeks after he was remanded in custody by a judge. |
His lawyers had earlier formally applied for his release on grounds of lack of evidence. | His lawyers had earlier formally applied for his release on grounds of lack of evidence. |
Italian news agency Ansa reported him saying: "I am happy to be going home. I thank God." | Italian news agency Ansa reported him saying: "I am happy to be going home. I thank God." |
Ticket inspection | Ticket inspection |
Meanwhile, Italian police had tracked down the fourth suspect in the case, Mr Guede, to Germany, believing he had left Perugia for Milan before leaving Italy. | Meanwhile, Italian police had tracked down the fourth suspect in the case, Mr Guede, to Germany, believing he had left Perugia for Milan before leaving Italy. |
Detectives had planned to arrest him as he crossed the border back into Italy, but a German ticket inspector detained him for fare-dodging. | Detectives had planned to arrest him as he crossed the border back into Italy, but a German ticket inspector detained him for fare-dodging. |
Miss Kercher was found dead at her home in Perugia, Italy | Miss Kercher was found dead at her home in Perugia, Italy |
Bloody fingerprints found on Miss Kercher's pillow and on toilet paper in her bathroom are reported to match those of Mr Guede. | Bloody fingerprints found on Miss Kercher's pillow and on toilet paper in her bathroom are reported to match those of Mr Guede. |
Perugia police chief Arturo de Felice said Mr Guede would be deported to Italy as soon as possible. | Perugia police chief Arturo de Felice said Mr Guede would be deported to Italy as soon as possible. |
On Tuesday Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi praised the German authorities involved. | On Tuesday Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi praised the German authorities involved. |
"I would like to thank the German police very much because...they arrested the Ivorian man who was wanted in a savage murder in Perugia," he said. | "I would like to thank the German police very much because...they arrested the Ivorian man who was wanted in a savage murder in Perugia," he said. |
No physical evidence | No physical evidence |
Mr Lumumba became a suspect based on Miss Knox's police interviews, according to court documents. | Mr Lumumba became a suspect based on Miss Knox's police interviews, according to court documents. |
But the American was confused about the events because she had smoked cannabis before the killing, a judge said. | But the American was confused about the events because she had smoked cannabis before the killing, a judge said. |
No physical evidence has emerged linking Mr Lumumba to the crime scene and witnesses have placed him at his bar on the night of the murder. | No physical evidence has emerged linking Mr Lumumba to the crime scene and witnesses have placed him at his bar on the night of the murder. |
Police do not believe the murder was premeditated but they allege each of the suspects played a role. | Police do not believe the murder was premeditated but they allege each of the suspects played a role. |
Prosecutors believe Miss Kercher was killed after refusing to take part in an extreme sex game. | Prosecutors believe Miss Kercher was killed after refusing to take part in an extreme sex game. |