Rudy Guede, the only individual definitively convicted in the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher, is set to appear in court this fall to face new charges of sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. Guede, a 38-year-old native of the Ivory Coast who has resided in Italy since he was five years old, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Kercher’s murder in October 2008. His sentence was reduced on appeal and he was released early for good behavior in 2021.
The murder case received extensive media coverage, spawning over two dozen books and several film adaptations. Significant evidence will be presented during the upcoming trial, including more than 100,000 photographs, thousands of chat messages, and audio recordings between Guede and the unnamed victim. This evidence was outlined by investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni, who ordered the trial to proceed after a preliminary hearing in Viterbo.
Guede’s relationship with the complainant began while he was still incarcerated and ended in 2023 when the woman filed charges against him. The allegations include sexual assault, mistreatment, and stalking. Guede had initially worked on work release from prison and continued to live in Viterbo after his release. His first hearing is scheduled for November 4, 2023.
The legal history surrounding Guede is complex. In 2009, American student Amanda Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted in connection with Kercher’s murder. However, after a prolonged legal battle, both were fully exonerated by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015. Knox was later convicted of slander for falsely accusing her former nightclub boss, Patrick Lumumba, of the murder.
Guede’s attorney, Carlo Mezzetti, stated that his client maintains his innocence and expressed concerns about the fairness of the upcoming trial due to Guede’s prior conviction. As the new trial approaches, the legal implications and public interest surrounding this high-profile case continue to unfold.
