Meredith murder trial to begin tomorrow

The long-awaited trial of two former lovers charged with murdering British student Meredith Kercher begins tomorrow amid fears it could be prejudiced by sensational coverage.

American Amanda Knox, 21, and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, have been behind bars for more than a year, awaiting a decision on whether they would stand trial for the murder of the 21-year-old Leeds University student – and then awaiting the trial itself.

Seattle-born Knox, accused of participating in a bungled sex game that led to the murder of her flatmate in Perugia, Italy, is trying to halt sales of a book she claims could stop her having a fair trial.

Her lawyer Luciano Ghirga confirmed that his team was seeking a legal ban of the book,’Amanda and the Others’, written by an Italian journalist.

The book reportedly contains details about Knox’s sex life, which add to the already extensive media coverage of the subject.

Mr Ghirga said the book contained “sensitive information.”

He confirmed that Knox was seeking €500,000 in compensation for damage allegedly already caused by the book and articles published in Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Too much information about the sex life of the Seattle-born foreign exchange student has been published, her lawyers argue.

But Mr Ghirga denied his client was the victim of a smear campaign.

“She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda,” he said. “We still hope she will get a fair trial though.”

A judge will decide tomorrow whether journalists will be allowed inside the Perugia court to cover proceedings, a court official said.

More than 140 members of the press have requested access, she added.

Knox and her legal team are believed to be in favour of an open trial.

It will be followed anxiously by her friends and supporters back home, who have been vocal in their defence of the attractive student, nicknamed “Foxy Knoxy”.

An ’Amanda Knox Defense Fund’ has been set up, its stated aim “to share who the ’real’ Amanda Knox is and allow you to help support her”.

Among comments posted on the supporters’ website is one from Kristin Moore, who says she is Knox’s former science teacher.

She writes: “I firmly believe that the media has entirely misrepresented who Amanda really is...

“Not a day has passed since last November that I haven’t thought about Amanda. I have wept for Amanda and her entire family for the way she has been portrayed.

“Amanda is smart and fun, affectionate and loyal.”

The trial is expected to be long, with the opening tomorrow expected to cover procedural matters only.

Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was on her year abroad in the Umbrian hilltop town when was found dead in her bedroom on November 2, 2007.

She was semi-naked and her throat had been slit.

A third person charged with her murder, Rudy Guede, 21, from the Ivory Coast, was found guilty in October 2008 and sentenced to 30 years in prison after a fast-track trial.