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Meredith Kercher

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Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher (born February 1986, Southwark in the United Kingdom) was stabbed to death on 2 November 2007 in Perugia, Italy. Kercher had been part of the Erasmus student exchange programme, and had gone in Italy in order to complete her degree course.

Death

Kercher was discovered by the Perugia Postal Police in her bed partially clothed and with her throat cut on the morning of 2 November. She had celebrated Halloween with friends in the programme the night before and had headed home. There was evidence on her body that she had sex not long before her death, but the coroners didn't establish any evidence that she had been raped. Her two mobile phones, found close to her home in Perugia, carry her fingerprints and an as yet unidentified print. The six-and-a-half hour post-mortem also showed that Kercher had been killed with a small penknife or a piece of glass. Police examined photographs on her Facebook page and say the internet will help provide clues. The case received international attention.

Investigation

Three people have been held under arrest in connection with the case, Amanda Knox, a female American student, her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and Patrick Lumumba, a Congolese man who runs a bar in the town. Mr Lumumba has a Polish wife and claims he is the grandson of Patrice Lumumba, African revolutionary, and later first prime minister of Republic of Congo in 1960, assassinated in 1961. Police claim to have found a fourth fingerprint in blood at the scene and are now seeking a fourth suspect. Police believe a footprint in the blood in the house "is exactly compatible" with one of Sollecito's shoes.

According to police, Knox broke down under interrogation and said that she heard screaming then blocked her ears, and felt confused. She stated that another man, Patrick Lumumba, was in the bedroom with Meredith at the time of the screams. A knife, wich is compatible with evidence of the murder weapon, has been reportedly found in Sollecito's home.

Tributes

Kercher's family travelled to Italy and visited the place where Meredith's friends in Perugia commemorated her, on the steps of Perugia Cathedral. Her dad left a rose and a condolence note stating "Love you forever Meredith, all my love. Dad". A candlelit vigil had place Monday night in Perugia in memory of Meredith.The students of her university, the University of Leeds, commemorated her as well. The Facebook community dedicated several pages and a huge number of messages and comments to her memory.

References

  1. "Meredith Kercher was worried by US flatmate's 'strange men'". The Times. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  2. "Three arrested over student's murder". Yorkshire Post. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  3. ^ "Meredith's flatmate 'heard her die'". The Guardian. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  4. "Suspect drowned screams of flatmate". ONE NEWS. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  5. "Judge considers ruling on Meredith suspects". Mirror.co.uk. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  6. ^ "Candlelight Vigil For Meredith". Your Local Guardian. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.

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