First sentencing soon in Kercher case

The first of three people present the night British student Mederith Kercher died horribly in a flat in Perugia risks life imprisonment.

Italian prosecutors have demanded the sentence for Rudy Guede, from the Ivory coast, accusing him of sexual assault before her murder. They have also demanded the two other suspects, American Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito go to trial.

The prosecutors say the two men held the Briton down while Knox cut her throat. All three suspects deny the charges. Guede had demanded a fast-track judgement, which under Italian law leads to a lesser sentence.

The grisly affair has attracted widespread attention. Tens of thousands of young people similar to Kercher and Knox now live abroad around Europe as part of exchange deals or student programmes, and Perugia is a popular exchange student destination. Monitored student accomodation is not always available.

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