Thursday, November 7, 2013

Amanda Knox: The Associated Press reports that the defence has been bolstered by an expert who has testified at Knox's third trial that a new trace of DNA found on the knife alleged to be the murder weapon belongs to Knox and not the victim.


 STORY: "Amanda Knox trial: New DNA test fails to show kitchen knife was murder weapon," by reporter Colleen Barry,  published by  The Associated Press on November 6, 2013.

SUB-HEADING: "An expert testifying in Amanda Knox's third murder trial in Italy said Wednesday that a new trace of DNA found on the handle of the knife alleged to be the murder weapon belongs to Knox and not the victim;

GIST:  "A court-appointed expert testifying in U.S. student Amanda Knox's third murder trial in Italy said Wednesday that a new trace of DNA found on the handle of the knife alleged to have been the murder weapon belongs to Knox and not the victim. That testimony bolsters the defence, which claims the kitchen knife was not the weapon used in the bloody 2007 slaying of Knox's British roommate, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher. As things stand, there's no confirmed DNA belonging to Kercher on the knife; one piece of DNA on its blade that was first attributed to Kercher has been disputed on appeal. Expert Andrea Berti testified Wednesday that the minute new DNA trace from the knife's handle showed “considerable affinity” with Knox's DNA, while not matching that of Kercher. It also did not match the DNA of Knox's co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito or Rudy Guede, an Ivorian man who has been convicted separately in the brutal slaying. Knox defence lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova told The Associated Press that the testimony confirms their contention that the knife was used solely for preparing food. “The report confirms that this is a kitchen knife. It is not a murder weapon,” Dalla Vedova said. Luca Maori, Sollecito's defence lawyer, said the trace's very existence also indicated the knife had not been washed. “It is something very important,” he said. “It is absurd to use it for a murder and put it back in the drawer.” The DNA evidence on the knife found in a drawer at Sollecito's place has been among the most hotly contested pieces of evidence in the original trial and now in two appeals.........The DNA trace is the last new piece of evidence to be entered in the latest trial. Prosecutors begin their summations later this month, followed by the defence in December. A verdict is expected in January."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/11/06/amanda_knox_trial_new_dna_test_fails_to_show_kitchen_knife_was_murder_weapon.html#

 PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.

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The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

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