Fresh lead in Meredith Kercher murder as Italian prosecutors ‘search for mystery woman’
Italian authorities are searching for a Bulgarian woman who may be linked to the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher, a former prosecutor said.
Although it is not yet clear whether the woman is a potential suspect or a witness, she may have critical information regarding the fatal stabbing of the 21-year-old while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy.
Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, who is now retired but helped lead the initial investigation into the murder, tipped off Italian authorities after being contacted by someone he described as a “reliable source.”
“There have been developments recently that could be important,” Mr Mignini told the Italian newspaper. LaStampa. “A source I consider to be reliable gave me the name of a person I had never considered before.
“A person who may be connected to the murder and who fled abroad a few days after the crime. There are indications that this person may be involved in the incident.”
Mr. Mignini said he reported the matter to the Perugia Public Prosecutor’s Office, which “dealt with the situation.” The Independent has contacted the office for comment.
Sources later said Telegram It was stated that the person in question was a Bulgarian woman who was in Perugia at the time of the murder, but it was unclear why she was in the town and whether she knew Ms. Kercher or her American roommate, Amanda Knox.
Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were previously convicted of murder but were acquitted in 2015 by the Supreme Court, Italy’s highest court.
Rudy Guede, from Ivory Coast, was convicted of the sexual assault and murder of Ms Kercher in 2008 after his DNA was found at the scene. He spent 13 years behind bars before being released in 2021.
Meanwhile Mr Mignini said: LaStampa Despite Guede’s conviction, he does not believe justice has yet been served.
“There were miscarriages of justice, mistakes in favor of the defendants. I must admit, this is a story that I cannot digest after 18 years: There was no justice,” he said. “It’s a story that leaves a lot of pain. I’ll be honest: I feel a certain regret when I think of that poor English girl.”
Italian lawyers said the Kercher family wanted to know more about the new lead.
Francesco Maresca told the Ansa news agency: “Once again, after all this time, people are talking about new hypotheses and other people who may be involved, and the family wants more information about all this.
“We remember once again Meredith’s lovely smile and her joy at coming to a country where she should have studied history, art and beauty and instead met her end.”
