Killer in Kercher trial gets 30 years

RUDY GUEDE, the only suspect in the killing in Italy of British student Meredith Kercher to have admitted being in the house …

RUDY GUEDE, the only suspect in the killing in Italy of British student Meredith Kercher to have admitted being in the house where she died, was last night found guilty of her death.

Two others alleged to have been there also, former lovers American Amanda Knox and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, will now stand trial for the murder.

Guede, an immigrant from the Ivory Coast who had denied any wrongdoing, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a judge in Perugia in Italy.

All three were accused of killing the 21-year-old Leeds University exchange student in a violent sex game in the city last November and have spent nearly a year behind bars awaiting today's decisions.

The semi-naked body of Ms Kercher was found in her room in the cottage she shared with Knox and others on her year abroad.

She had died of stab wounds after her throat was slit.

The key piece of evidence to be used by prosecutors to link Sollecito to the crime is a trace of his DNA on the clasp of Miss Kercher's bra. - (PA)

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