The appeal concentrated only on evidence which Knox & Solliceto's lawyers challenged; indeed, only a fraction of the overall evidence was considered in the appeal. What follows has not been challenged by K & S's representatives:
The initial trial itself sought the counsel of 42 judges, who concluded that Ms Kercher was definitely attacked by more than one person. Below are the pointers leading to their conclusion; I've spoilered them because, although there are no pictures, the textual detail is a little graphic. The question remains then, who were Guede's accomplices?
The initial trial itself sought the counsel of 42 judges, who concluded that Ms Kercher was definitely attacked by more than one person. Below are the pointers leading to their conclusion; I've spoilered them because, although there are no pictures, the textual detail is a little graphic. The question remains then, who were Guede's accomplices?
From the forensic analysis conducted at Meredith Kercher's autopsy, we learn about the nature of the knife wounds, some light and superficial, some deep, penetrating and ultimately fatal:
Different knives must have been used to inflict those wounds, at least two pocket knives, and one much longer and broader kitchen knife.
The pathologist found clear evidence of bruising around her wrists and neck, indicating that she had been both physically restrained and throttled. The stab wounds to her neck were made from both the left and the right, and with different blades; this is totally inconsistent with the lone attacker theory.
Bruising around the mouth, indicative of the victim having been gagged in some way to stifle her screams.
The post mortem reveals a strange absence of defensive wounds, highly unusual in a sober, athletically strong young woman conscious that she is being sexually assaulted and in fear for her life. This is strange, because in order for an assailant to stab his victim, he must, by necessity, have a free hand in which to grasp the knife. Therefore he had to, at least in part, release his grip on the victim who in turn would instinctively use her free arm to protect herself against the assault. Had he been gagging her mouth with his other hand, she would have been free and able to gauge, claw, punch and tear at her assailant with both hands.
We discover that her bra had been cut away at the clasp at the back, an extremely difficult manoeuvre for a lone assailant to execute whilst both restraining and attacking his victim from the front.
For these, what some might describe as the idiosyncratic language of the attack, and many other reasons, an objective observer must concur with the findings in the Massei report in that Meredith Kercher was killed by more than one assailant.
Different knives must have been used to inflict those wounds, at least two pocket knives, and one much longer and broader kitchen knife.
The pathologist found clear evidence of bruising around her wrists and neck, indicating that she had been both physically restrained and throttled. The stab wounds to her neck were made from both the left and the right, and with different blades; this is totally inconsistent with the lone attacker theory.
Bruising around the mouth, indicative of the victim having been gagged in some way to stifle her screams.
The post mortem reveals a strange absence of defensive wounds, highly unusual in a sober, athletically strong young woman conscious that she is being sexually assaulted and in fear for her life. This is strange, because in order for an assailant to stab his victim, he must, by necessity, have a free hand in which to grasp the knife. Therefore he had to, at least in part, release his grip on the victim who in turn would instinctively use her free arm to protect herself against the assault. Had he been gagging her mouth with his other hand, she would have been free and able to gauge, claw, punch and tear at her assailant with both hands.
We discover that her bra had been cut away at the clasp at the back, an extremely difficult manoeuvre for a lone assailant to execute whilst both restraining and attacking his victim from the front.
For these, what some might describe as the idiosyncratic language of the attack, and many other reasons, an objective observer must concur with the findings in the Massei report in that Meredith Kercher was killed by more than one assailant.
