Friday, December 04, 2009

The Ruling Deliberations: Updates On Any New Developments Today Friday

Posted by Peter Quennell



[Above: the main entrance of the court complex]

Update 1: After a brief hearing in the courtroom this morning the judges and lay judges commenced their deliberations on a ruling around mid-morning.

Update 2: The Croydon Guardian reports the departure of Meredith’s family from London for Rome and then Perugia.

The parents of murdered Coulsdon student, Meredith Kercher, are due to arrive in Italy for the verdict of her murder trial.

Arline and John Kercher flew to Perugia today to see the jury deliver its verdict on whether or not Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were involved in their daughter’s murder.

Update 3: The BBC has a brief simulation of the police finding Meredith in her room on the day.

Update 4: The Independent devotes a report exclusively to the Kercher family’s two-year ordeal.

Update 5: Today for the first time ever, Meredith’s family may get to meet face-to-face Raffaele Sollecito’s family and Amanda Knox’s family. During Guede’s trial in October 2008. Meredith’s family were in court, and Knox’s family apparently observed the courtroom from a hillside up above.

Update 6: A video of Amanda Knox making her final statement in Italian has been added to the post below on the wrapping-up of the summations yesterday.

Update 7: Sky News has just posted a written report and a video report.

Update 8: La Notizie is saying that the ruling, barring unforseen circumstances, should come tonight. On Perugia Murder File forum (link just below) they are saying that might not bode well for the defense. 

Update 9: Eight PM in Perugia now, and the judges’ deliberations on their rulings continue. Meredith’s family are waiting at their hotel now, as are Amanda Knox’s and Raffaele Sollecito’s families. No further news leaking out. Everybody tense.

Update 10: Nine PM in Perugia and informal word from Perugia is that the rulings are expected tonight some time after midnight, maybe 4 or 5 hours away. Knox and Sollecito are right now back in their cells in Capanne prison.

Update 11: The AGI News Service  is reporting this below.

It has been now more than 8 hours since the Court of Assizes of Perugia began in closed session to reach the verdict against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito. Deliberating are the presiding judge, Giancarlo Massei, 55 years old, head of the criminal division of the court in Perugia, the judge Beatrice Christians, 52 years old, and 6 lay-judges, three men, 35 , 38 and 57 years… and as many women, 37 43, and 51 years, all residents in the area of jurisdiction of the court in Perugia. (the alternates were set free - ed.)

Posted by Peter Quennell on 12/04/09 at 02:30 PM in Appeals 2009-2015Hellmann 2011+

Comments

Just saw this nice video piece that focuses solely on Meredith
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/03/meredith.kercher.profile/

Posted by chira385 on 12/04/09 at 04:43 PM | #

Peter, you need to change the caption of the first photo above. That’s not the entrance to the courthouse in Perugia. It’s the University for Foreigners in Piazza Grimana.

Posted by Commissario Montalbano on 12/04/09 at 09:02 PM | #

Hey Commissario, you are right! I didnt look hard at the shot or even look at the caption. I’ve been in both entrances several times. The court entrance is actually pretty modest, there are some shots in our Perugia series. The back of the court (east-facing) is above a steep slope down and I think there are courts and office on several levels below piazza level. The road tunnel is directly below the court and there is an elevator up. Knox and Sollecito have arrived in court via that tunnel and elevator.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 12/04/09 at 09:26 PM | #

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