Second day of evidence from Meredith murder accused

Amanda Knox will continue her testimony today in her trial for sexually assaulting and murdering British student Meredith Kercher.

American Knox, 21, from Seattle, gave evidence for the first time yesterday in a packed courtroom in Perugia, Italy.

She told the court she had a good relationship with Miss Kercher and never dreamed she would become a suspect in her murder.

Today she will return to the medieval vaulted court, along with the large crowd of Italian, British and US cameramen and press following the trial.

Miss Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was found dead in her bedroom on November 2 2007 in the house she lived in with Knox and others on her year abroad in the Umbrian town.

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

Prosecutors accuse Knox and her Italian former lover, Raffaele Sollecito, 25, of killing the Leeds University student after she refused to take part in a sex game.

But Knox said she had spent the night of the murder at Sollecito’s apartment.

“We smoked a joint and made love,” she told the court.

She last said goodbye to Miss Kercher a few hours earlier in their cottage, she said.

Addressing the court in the fluent Italian she has learned during her year-and-a-half in prison in the country, she described her friendly relations with her house mate.

Together the two of them discussed literature, dined in restaurants and went to Perugia’s annual chocolate festival, she said.

“If one of us had a problem with the other, we would talk about it and sort it out,” she said.

When Miss Kercher’s body was discovered she was in shock, she said.

“I never thought of hiring a lawyer. I couldn’t understand why I was arrested.”

She explained to the court why she had implicated Congolese bar owner Patrick Lumumba during her “long and difficult” police interrogation.

“Everything (I) said was said in confusion and under pressure. They (the officers questioning me) were suggesting Patrick Lumumba so the first thing I said was ’OK, Patrick’,” she said.

Mr Lumumba, who was arrested but released without charge after an alibi came forward, is claiming damages against Knox for defaming him.

His civil action is taking place alongside the criminal trial, which began in January.

It is being held in stages and is expected to last several more months.

Knox and Sollecito, who deny any wrongdoing, face a sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty.

A third person charged with the killing, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, 22, was convicted of murder and sexual violence in October last year.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a fast-track trial held behind closed doors.

His appeal hearing has been set for November 18.