Italian authorities are on the lookout for an unidentified Bulgarian woman in connection with the killing of British student Meredith Kercher. Kercher, a 21-year-old University of Leeds exchange student, was murdered in 2007 while studying in Umbria. The case gained international attention with the conviction and later acquittal of US citizen Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend for the crime.
Rudy Guede, another student, received a 30-year prison sentence in October 2008 for Kercher’s murder, which was later reduced on appeal. Released early for good behavior in 2021, Guede now faces trial for a separate rape case. Nearly two decades after Kercher’s death, prosecutors are focusing on a Bulgarian woman who departed Italy shortly after the incident.
Retired prosecutor Giuliano Mignini disclosed to La Stampa that a reliable source provided a new lead in the case, identifying the woman as a potential suspect or witness who was present at the time of the murder. Mignini emphasized the significance of locating her for the investigation’s progress.
While the person of interest’s identity remains undisclosed, prosecutors clarify that she may not be a suspect but could offer crucial information as a witness. Responding to these developments, Francesco Maresca, the Kercher family’s Italian lawyer, expressed the family’s desire for more details, reflecting on Meredith’s life and untimely demise.
In a separate incident, the Kercher family criticized Amanda Knox following the release of her Disney+ series, accusing her of exploiting their daughter’s murder for publicity. Maresca emphasized the importance of preserving Meredith’s memory with dignity rather than focusing on Knox’s exoneration.