Woman's bloodied shoe print found under Kercher's body

A woman’s bloodied shoe print compatible with the size worn by a US student accused of murdering her British flat mate was found under the body, an Italian detective said today.

Monica Napoleoni, head of Perugia’s police’s homicide squad, said at the trial that forensic experts determined the shoe’s size range encompassed the size worn by Amanda Knox, the American student.

Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are on trial in Perugia for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, a fellow student in the university town.

Both Knox and Sollecito have denied any wrongdoing.

A lawyer for the victim’s family, Francesco Maresca, said during a break in today’s trial session that the print has not been matched to any shoes yet.

Ms Napoleoni testified that forensic experts determined the shoe's size ranged from 36 to 38 and that Knox wears a 37.

Outside the courtroom, Knox defence lawyers dismissed the testimony about the print as insignificant.

Prosecutors allege that Miss Kercher was killed during what began as a sex game, with Sollecito holding her by the shoulders from behind while Knox touched her with the point of a knife. They say Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede tried to sexually assault Miss Kercher and then Knox fatally stabbed her in the throat. Guede was convicted of murder in a separate trial last year and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Sollecito stood up in court today to claim that police had denied his requests to call his father and a lawyer the night he was questioned, a few days after 21-year-old Miss Kercher was found stabbed to death in her bedroom in November 2007. He said police took off his shoes “without giving a reason” and “left me barefoot all night.”

Knox also claimed she was treated badly while at police headquarters for questioning. Speaking Italian in a confident-sounding voice, she said it was only after she gave police statement that she was “treated like a person” and given food and drink.

Homicide squad officer Lorena Zugarini in court testimony denied that Knox was beaten or otherwise mistreated during questioning and said drinks were provided even before Knox started making statements.

Knox previously claimed she was hit on the head by police, a claim that authorities have vigorously denied.

In Italian trials, defendants sometimes make spontaneous declarations.

Also on today, policewoman Rita Ficarra, testified that Knox grew “bothered and tired” by police questioning.

“I told her off, and I asked her: ’Don’t you realise we’re talking about the murder of a friend of yours?”’ Ms Ficarra told the court.

Ms Ficarra added that while other friends of Miss Kercher appeared sad when they were taken to the police station, Knox was seen “jumping around,” kissing Sollecito and staying close to him.