Amanda Knox

[Lady Cop]

9/3/11



Stephanie Kercher, with her mother Arline Kercher and father John Kercher in Perugia.



Meredith Kercher. the victim.




Murdered Meredith Kercher's sister today urged that she should 'not be forgotten' nor have 'died in vain' just hours before the appeal by her convicted killer Amanda Knox resumes.

Speaking for the first time in more than 18 months since Knox, 24, was given a 26-year jail term for the brutal murder, Stephanie Kercher also revealed how the family had been living 'weeks of anguish.'

In a letter to the family's Italian lawyer the Kerchers expressed their 'anxiety and trouble' at how the appeal had heard how the original DNA investigation had been condemned by two court appointed experts.

Stephanie wrote: 'In these last few week we have been left seriously anxious and greatly troubled by the news regarding the original DNA findings.

'It is extremely difficult to understand how the results which were obtained with great care and presented in the first trial as valid could now be regraded as irrelevant.'

The original trial heard DNA from Meredith was found on the blade of a 30cm kitchen knife and Knox's on the handle - police had recovered it from the apartment of Knox's former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.

However earlier this summer, the appeal heard from two experts who said forensic scientists had made errors when handling the evidence and that DNA from Meredith on the blade was minimal and not enugh to be reexamined.

Stephanie added: 'How can the DNA of the knife be considered a small amount when the same experts themselves cannot give an exact response to how much should be taken into consideration?

'It should also be remembered that both the prosecution and the defence had experts present when the original tests were carried out for the first trial at the forensic science lab in Rome.

'The defense seem to be focusing on these DNA aspects but we want, for a moment to remember who this case is about: My sister, a daughter brutally taken away four years ago, and a day does not pass when we do not think about her and can bring this to an end.

'All those who are reading and writing about this case, please remember our beautiful Meredith. Her blood was mixed with other traces found in the bathroom, corridor and in Filomena's (housemate) bedroom and there were also other bloody imprints.'

Meredith, 21, was found semi naked and with her throat slit in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox and two Italian women in the hill top town of Perugia in November 2007.

Knox and Sollecito, 27, were convicted of murder and sexually assault in December 2009 and given 26 years and 25 years respectively and the appeal began late last year.

In recent weeks there has been a growing unease that the convictions are unsafe because of the bungled DNA evidence which has also seen police accused of contaminating findings by not wearing gloves or hats.

A video shown in court by the experts was greeted with shock as it showed scientists using dirty gloves to pick up evidence and then place it in plastic bags.

However Stephanie said: 'We still have faith in the Italian police and we also have faith in all the prosecutors and the investigators.

'Remember there is other proof in the 10,000 pages that were gathered and presented in court.

'We ask that the Court of Appeal considers every single element, scientific and circumstantial as well as every witness questioned and that they do it independently.

'In the midst of all this interest Meredith has been forgotten, she is now longer with us and so everything should be for her and to try and understand what really happened that tragic night.

'We have never forgotten her and we will continue our fight with the support of our lawyer Francesco Maresca so that justice is done and we continue to back the prosecution and all those in Italy and across the world who continue to think of Mez.'


Stephanie added: 'Please don't let Meredith's death be in vain, her courage and strength is still fighting and we will continue to search for justice until she can rest in peace.

'She did not stop fighting on November 1 - the day she was killed - and we are not going to stop now.'

Today Mr Maresca said: 'It is important that the court remembers the victim here and that is why the family have written this letter to ensure that.

'They want justice and they have given their full support to the prosecution and the police despite the criticism that has been levelled at them in recent weeks.

'The family are looking for the Court of Appeal to confirm the original sentences and verdict and they will be in court when the judge gives his verdict later this month.

'They just want to ensure that people do not forget Meredith is the victim here in spite of all that has been said of the DNA investigation and which we will argue was carried out correctly.'

The appeal is due to resume on Monday and continue through until Saturday and will include final questioning of the court appointed experts and summing up from the prosecution and defence.

The court will then break for ten days and resume at the end of the month for final summing up with a verdict expected around September 26 - Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellman could confirm the sentences, reduce them or clear Knox and Sollecito.

The experts finding has given fresh hope to both families that Knox and Sollecito, will be cleared and released from prison.

University of Leeds student Meredith from Coulsdon, Surrey, was murdered just two months after she arrived in Italy during her year abroad.
A third defendant, small-time drug dealer Rudy Guede, an immigrant from the Ivory Coast, was also jailed in connection with the brutal killing.
He was handed a 30-year sentence for murder and sexual violence following a fast-track trial in October 2008 which was later cut to 16 years.