A British exchange student was found dead in her Italian apartment. What followed was nearly eight years of trials, appeals, and international headlines — and, in the end, only one person was ever convicted of her murder.
The Murder
Meredith Kercher, 21, a British student from the University of Leeds studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, was found dead in her bedroom on November 1, 2007. Investigators initially focused on her American roommate, Amanda Knox, and Knox's boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, both of whom were charged in connection with the murder.
Rudy Guede
Bloodstained fingerprint evidence at the scene was later matched to Rudy Guede, who was tried separately in a fast-track proceeding. In October 2008, Guede was convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher and began serving a 16-year sentence, later approved in 2020 to complete part of his term through community service.
Knox and Sollecito's Trials
Knox and Sollecito were convicted in an initial trial, generating significant international attention and debate among forensic experts and legal commentators about the strength of the evidence used against them. They were acquitted on appeal in 2011 and released after nearly four years in custody, though Knox was separately convicted of slander for falsely accusing another individual during the initial investigation and received a three-year sentence for that charge. Knox returned to the United States following her release.
Years of Appeals
Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation annulled the 2011 acquittals in 2013, ordering a new appellate trial, which took place in Florence and resulted in both Knox and Sollecito being convicted again in 2014. On March 27, 2015, however, Italy's Supreme Court definitively overturned those convictions, citing "glaring" investigative errors and insufficient evidence, and ruled that no further retrial would occur — a decision that brought the case to its final conclusion.
Where the Case Stands
Rudy Guede remains the only person convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were definitively acquitted of the murder in 2015, following one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent European history.
FAQ
Was Amanda Knox convicted of murder?
No. Her murder conviction was ultimately overturned by Italy's Supreme Court in 2015. She was separately convicted of slander for a false accusation made during the investigation.
Who was convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder?
Rudy Guede is the only person ever convicted of the murder itself.
Why did the case go through so many trials?
Italy's appellate court system allowed for multiple rounds of appeal, with convictions and acquittals overturned several times before the Supreme Court's final 2015 ruling.