Kercher family welcomes killers' convictions

The family of murdered student Meredith Kercher today welcomed the convictions of her killers, and said that they agreed with the outcome of the court case.

Speaking at a press conference in Perugia, Italy today, her brother Lyle Kercher said that they were “pleased with the decision”.

He said: “Ultimately we are pleased with the decision, pleased that we’ve got a decision but it’s not a time for celebration.”

His mother Arline told a packed room of journalists that on the evidence, she agreed with the guilty verdicts against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.

She said: “If the evidence has been presented then, yes, you have to agree with that verdict. It’s difficult to say but at the end of the day you have to go on the evidence because there’s nothing else.”

The family said they kept Meredith in their lives through memories and maintaining contact with her friends and that "she will always be part of our family".

The Kerchers were awarded €4.4m compensation, but Lyle said the figure was "symbolic" and no amount could make up for their loss.

He said the sum was to reflect the “severity and gravity of the case”.

The family said that the student’s death had left a hole in their lives but that they wanted to focus on positive memories of her.

Her other brother John Kercher said that “Everyone in this room associates Meredith with a tragic event but we would prefer not to remember her in that way. We would like to concentrate on the 21 years that we had with her.”