Conflicting stories given by suspect’s lawyers

Nov 26 2007 by Catrin Pascoe, Western Mail

FRESH doubts emerged yesterday over whether the man arrested in Germany over the murder of British student Meredith Kercher had sex with her on the night she died.

Two of the lawyers acting for Rudy Hermann Guede gave contrasting stories, with one saying the 20-year-old did have sex with Miss Kercher and another denying that such an encounter took place.

Speaking to reporters in Perugia, Nicodemo Gentile said Guede had sex with Miss Kercher on the night of November 1 that was not of a violent nature.

But speaking to Italian radio after visiting his client in prison in Germany yesterday, Walter Biscotti said there had been “no sexual relations at all” between the pair.

Guede, who has joint Ivorian and Italian nationality, is awaiting extradition to Italy after being arrested on Tuesday.

He denies sexually assaulting and murdering the 21-year- old, from Coulsdon, Surrey, at her home in Perugia.

Two other people, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 23, and Miss Kercher’s American housemate Amanda Knox, 20, are also being held in connection with the killing. They too deny involvement.

The lawyers also said yesterday that Guede can identify who killed Miss Kercher, and that the Leeds University student’s final words would “be at the heart of the defence case.”

It has been widely reported in the Italian media that Guede heard Miss Kercher whisper something as she died – said to be the initials AF – and that he wrote them on the wall of her bedroom.

Guede admits he was in the house on the night of the murder but says it was an Italian man he does not know who committed the crime.

He says he was in the bathroom when he heard Miss Kercher scream and that he tried, unsuccessfully, to resuscitate her after having a brief confrontation with the man.

Reports in Italy yesterday suggested the man said to Guede, “Black man found, black man condemned” before fleeing the house.

Mr Biscotti said, “The reason Rudy says the man is Italian is because he heard him say a few things before he left. Things that are similar to what has appeared in the newspapers. I don’t know the exact words, but they were laying the blame on him because he is black.”

Today, lawyers and experts will gather in a hearing that could clear the way for Miss Kercher’s body to be released for burial.