This article originally appeared in
Video disputes Knox claim
By ERIC J. LYMAN
Special to The Seattle Times
PERUGIA, Italy — A closed-circuit security camera captured images of Seattle native Amanda
Knox entering her house on the night her roommate was slain, some Italian media outlets
reported Monday.
The video contradicts one of the stories Knox, 20, has told police since she was arrested along
with two men in connection with the slaying of her British roommate Meredith Kercher, 21.
Knox has said that on the night of the slaying, she was with Raffaele Sollecito, her 24-year-old
boyfriend, who also is being held in connection with the slaying. That is the version of events
that Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, told reporters after meeting with her daughter on Saturday.
But it was reportedly denied by Sollecito, who has said he did not see Knox between 9 p.m. on
Nov. 1 and early in the morning of Nov. 2.
Knox, Sollecito and Kercher were schoolmates at Perugia's University for Foreigners. Besides
Knox and Sollecito, another man, well-known bar owner Diya "Patrick" Lumumba, is also being
held. All three have denied involvement in the slaying.
Given the severity of the charges, Italian law allows all three to be held for up to two years
without being charged.
Italian newspapers said Monday that police may be looking for as many as two additional
people who could have been in the room where Kercher's body was found on the morning of
Nov. 2.
The Turin daily La Stampa reported that police found a high-heeled shoe that did not belong to
either Kercher or Knox in the room where Kercher was found. And newspapers continued to
report that what appeared to be a male's fingerprints were found in the room.
La Stampa also said that while Knox's fingerprints were found in Kercher's room, none were
found in her own room, sparking suspicion that someone may have helped Knox clear her room
of evidence.
Other facts that trickled out Monday include news that Lumumba's identification papers
misstated his age. He is 44 rather than 37 or 38, the ages reported for him previously.
Forensic reports out of Rome on Monday have shed additional light on the investigation.
The case against Sollecito includes reports that the knife used to cut Kercher's throat matches a
short knife owned by Sollecito and that a bloody footprint near Kercher's body matches athletic
shoes owned by the suspect.
But Sollecito's father appeared on Italian television Monday to say many types of knives could
make a similar mark and that the shoes Sollecito wore were too common to base a case on.
Investigators said they are looking for DNA clues from a sweaty T-shirt Lumumba wore that
night and from a hair found on his head that was not his.
Eric J. Lyman is a freelance reporter based in Rome.
By ERIC J. LYMAN
Special to The Seattle Times
PERUGIA, Italy — A closed-circuit security camera captured images of Seattle native Amanda
Knox entering her house on the night her roommate was slain, some Italian media outlets
reported Monday.
The video contradicts one of the stories Knox, 20, has told police since she was arrested along
with two men in connection with the slaying of her British roommate Meredith Kercher, 21.
Knox has said that on the night of the slaying, she was with Raffaele Sollecito, her 24-year-old
boyfriend, who also is being held in connection with the slaying. That is the version of events
that Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, told reporters after meeting with her daughter on Saturday.
But it was reportedly denied by Sollecito, who has said he did not see Knox between 9 p.m. on
Nov. 1 and early in the morning of Nov. 2.
- Knox also has claimed that she was in the house
when Kercher's throat was cut and that she had to
cover her ears to drown out the noise of the
screaming from the struggle leading up to
Kercher's death.
- Police investigators would not comment on the
security camera, citing Italian law that limits the
types of information that can be released as part of
an open investigation. And Knox's attorneys in both
Perugia and Rome could not be reached for
comment.
- An Italian judge has said Knox has "confused
memories" of that night because she had taken
hashish. A lawyer for Knox, Luciano Ghirga, told
reporters that because his client had given different
versions of what happened, "it is difficult to evaluate
which one is true."
- Police estimate that Kercher's throat was cut
around 11 p.m. on Nov. 1. There is evidence that
she may not have died until up to two hours later.
Knox, Sollecito and Kercher were schoolmates at Perugia's University for Foreigners. Besides
Knox and Sollecito, another man, well-known bar owner Diya "Patrick" Lumumba, is also being
held. All three have denied involvement in the slaying.
Given the severity of the charges, Italian law allows all three to be held for up to two years
without being charged.
Italian newspapers said Monday that police may be looking for as many as two additional
people who could have been in the room where Kercher's body was found on the morning of
Nov. 2.
The Turin daily La Stampa reported that police found a high-heeled shoe that did not belong to
either Kercher or Knox in the room where Kercher was found. And newspapers continued to
report that what appeared to be a male's fingerprints were found in the room.
La Stampa also said that while Knox's fingerprints were found in Kercher's room, none were
found in her own room, sparking suspicion that someone may have helped Knox clear her room
of evidence.
Other facts that trickled out Monday include news that Lumumba's identification papers
misstated his age. He is 44 rather than 37 or 38, the ages reported for him previously.
Forensic reports out of Rome on Monday have shed additional light on the investigation.
The case against Sollecito includes reports that the knife used to cut Kercher's throat matches a
short knife owned by Sollecito and that a bloody footprint near Kercher's body matches athletic
shoes owned by the suspect.
But Sollecito's father appeared on Italian television Monday to say many types of knives could
make a similar mark and that the shoes Sollecito wore were too common to base a case on.
Investigators said they are looking for DNA clues from a sweaty T-shirt Lumumba wore that
night and from a hair found on his head that was not his.
Eric J. Lyman is a freelance reporter based in Rome.
| Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company |
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Amanda Knox, 20, of Seattle was studying at
Perugia's University for Foreigners.
Photo: Stefano Medici / AP
Perugia's University for Foreigners.
Photo: Stefano Medici / AP
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