New suspect in Meredith Kercher murder may have fled abroad, former prosecutor claims
- - New suspect in Meredith Kercher murder may have fled abroad, former prosecutor claims
Emily BlumenthalNovember 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death in her flat in Perugia on Nov 1, 2007 - PA/Handout
The prosecutor who led the investigation into the murder of Meredith Kercher has claimed there is a new suspect in the case.
Giuliano Mignini, who is now retired, revealed the new lead 18 years after Kercher, a 21-year-old British student studying on an Erasmus programme, was found dead in her flat in Perugia.
Mr Mignini told La Stampa, the Italian newspaper, that a “reliable” source disclosed the name of an individual who had not been previously considered and is believed to have left Italy shortly after Kercher’s killing.
“Recently there have been developments that could prove significant,” Mr Mignini said.
“A source I consider reliable gave me the name of an individual I’d never considered before. A person who may be implicated in the murder and who fled abroad a few days after the crime. There are indications that this person may have some involvement in the matter.”
Giuliano Mignini (left) said a “reliable” source had disclosed the name of a new suspect in the case - Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images Europe
He added that he had reported the tip to the Perugia Prosecutors’ Office, which on Friday told Sky News that it had not made a decision on whether to open a new investigation.
The case captivated the international media almost immediately after Kercher was found stabbed to death on Nov 1, 2007.
Amanda Knox, an American student who shared the flat with Kercher, and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollicito were originally convicted for the killing and served four years in prison before being acquitted and exonerated by Italy’s Court of Cassation in 2015.
Amanda Knox has been outspoken about her wrongful conviction in the case - Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
Ms Knox has since been outspoken about her ordeal and told Sky News’s Italian channel in June 2024 that she has been “unjustly accused for 17 years”.
The case has been dramatised in several television programmes, most recently in The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, a Hulu miniseries released in August which follows Ms Knox’s wrongful conviction and battle to clear her name.
Rudy Guede, an Ivory Coast national, was ultimately found guilty of murdering and sexually assaulting Kercher and was released in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 30-year prison sentence. He is due to stand trial on Tuesday for the alleged sexual assault of a former girlfriend.
Rudy Guede was convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting Kercher and served 13 years of a 30-year prison sentence - Federico Zirilli/AFP
Mr Mignini has said multiple times that he believes there were others involved in the murder who are still at large.
He told La Stampa that he still receives tips about the case and says “for years, those who knew kept quiet out of fear”.
“I’m just saying that if I had known certain details at the time, I would have definitely investigated further,” he added.
Almost two decades on, Mr Mignini said justice still has not been served for Kercher.
“I confess, it’s a story that, 18 years later, I can’t stomach: there has been no justice. It’s a story that has left a lot of bitterness,” he said.
“I’ll be honest: when I think of that poor English girl, I feel a certain regret.”
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
