Kercher mother gives emotional testimony

The mother of murdered exchange student Meredith Kercher fought back tears today as she told a court she still struggles to come to terms with her daughter's brutal death.

Giving evidence at the trial of the couple accused of the murder, Arline Kercher said she would never get over the killing that took place 18 months ago.

"Her death was unbelievable, unreal - in many ways it still is," Mrs Kercher told the court hearing in Perugia, Italy.

"I still look for her. It's not just her death but it is the nature of it, the brutality of it, the violence of it and the great sorrow it's brought everyone.

"It is such a shock to send your child to school and for them to not come back. We will never, never get over it."

Mrs Kercher (aged 63) was giving evidence in a civil case attached to the criminal trial of Amanda Knox (aged 21) from Seattle, and Italian-born Raffaele Sollecito (aged 25).

The pair are accused of killing Miss Kercher after she refused to take part in a sex game.

Mrs Kercher and her family are seeking about £20m (€22.9m) in damages in a case which runs alongside the trial.

Her daughter (aged 21) a Leeds University student from Coulsdon, Surrey, was found dead in her bedroom in the cottage she shared with defendant Amanda Knox and two Italian girls on her year abroad in the Umbrian town.

Her throat had been slit and her semi-naked body was partially covered by a duvet.

Taking a deep breath, Mrs Kercher recounted the final telephone conversations she had with her daughter, before the killing on November 2, 2007.

Dressed in a dark jacket and trousers, she was visibly moved as she detailed Miss Kercher's call on November 1 - the afternoon before she died.

Mrs Kercher said her daughter - who called every day - had phoned to discuss a planned return to England.

"She rang to let me know when she was coming back," Mrs Kercher said.

"She said she was really tired because they had been out for Hallowe'en the night before and they had come back very late and she was going to see some friends to see a film.

"But she was coming back early - she had an essay to finish."

Mrs Kercher said her daughter, described as "conscientious", had lectures at 10am the next day and had exams coming up.

However, she said the "hard working" student had never expressed any fears or worries about her life in Perugia.

Later, the court heard from Miss Kercher's sister, Stephanie, and father, John, who said the exchange student - known as Mez - had a "strong character" and would have fought hard in the struggle.

Asked whether Miss Kercher would have been able to defend herself, her sister (aged 25) replied: "Absolutely - 110%. Mez had a strong physical and personal character.

"She was very passionate about things that were important to her - her family, her friends, coming to Italy and studying.

"She fought hard for her place here and she would have fought."

Her father, 66, said his daughter had studied karate and told jurors: "Although she wasn't an expert in it (karate), I think she could have put up quite a fight."

He also told the court how he had heard the news of his daughter's death only after calling a national newspaper where he once worked.

"Meredith's mother phoned me to say that she had heard on the news that a British student had been found murdered in Perugia," he told the court

"So I tried ringing Meredith on her mobile at about 5pm and I must have tried 12 times and didn't get an answer because it was on the automated message.

"At 5.40 the phone started ringing but there was still no answer for the next half hour."

At 6pm Mr Kercher said he called the newspaper's foreign desk and added: "Two hours later they phoned me and said they had the name of the British student and that the name was Meredith.

"That was how I found out. That was how I found out."

Throughout their evidence, Knox, dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt and jeans, showed little emotion.

With her hair down and wearing no make-up, she listened intently as the family of her murdered housemate relived the ordeal of November 2007.

She stared straight ahead of her as Mrs Kercher described the relationship between the housemates as simply "all right".

And she showed no reaction when the mother told of Miss Kercher's surprise when "Amanda had got a boyfriend in the first week".

Earlier the court was told how Miss Kercher, who had been "looking forward" to living in Perugia, had specifically chosen the Umbrian hilltop town because it was small, had good airport links and a chocolate festival.

The Erasmus student, who was given a grant to pursue a year of her university studies abroad, moved into the cottage which she was to share with Knox and two Italian girls because she loved its "panoramic views".

Her father said she loved Perugia but rarely mentioned Knox except to complain that the American never flushed the toilet.

He said his daughter had hoped to either pursue a career as a journalist or working in Brussels.

"I wanted whatever she wanted," he told the crowded court room.

Knox and Sollecito, both charged with her murder, have been behind bars for about 18 months. They deny any wrongdoing.

Defence arguments are scheduled to begin next week, with Knox taking the stand.

Their full trial, which began in January, has been held in stages and could last until the end of the year.

A third person charged with the murder, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede (aged 22) was found guilty in October last year.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a fast-track trial.

An appeal hearing for Guede has been set for November 18.

The trial was adjourned.