Amanda Knox killed Meredith 'for revenge'
Lawyers being closing arguments in trial of two people accused of murdering UK student Meredith Kercher
Friday, 20, Nov 2009 05:20
By Matthew Champion.
UK student Meredith Kercher was killed by her American housemate Amanda Knox in a fit of "revenge", prosecutors said today.
Presenting their closing arguments, lawyers said Ms Kercher, 21 when she was killed in Perugia, Italy, in November 2007, and Ms Knox, 22, had been arguing over money.
Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini claimed that the pair had argued after Ms Knox brought back her then boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 25, and another man, 22-year-old Rudy Hermann Guede, 22, to the house they shared.
Mr Mignini said all three were under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
"Meredith was far too serious a girl for her, Amanda didn't like her, she didn't like her friends because they were critical of her hygiene and habits," he is quoted as telling the court.
"Amanda coveted hatred for Meredith and that night the time had come for her to take revenge."
Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito deny any involvement Ms Kercher's murder, insisting they were both at the latter's house.
The student, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was found semi-naked and with her throat slit.
Guede, from the Ivory Coast, has already been sentenced to 30 years in prison over the murder after opting for a fast-track trial, but he is currently appealing his conviction.
A verdict in the case is expected in the coming weeks.