Rudy Guede, the individual convicted of the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, is set to stand trial this November for charges related to sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 4, 2023, in Viterbo, where Guede has faced legal scrutiny since his early release from prison in 2021.
Guede, now 38 years old and originally from the Ivory Coast, 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 due to good behavior. The case drew extensive media attention, resulting in numerous books and films exploring the events surrounding Kercher’s death.
The upcoming trial will consider a substantial body of evidence, including over 100,000 photographs and thousands of communications, such as chats and audio messages between Guede and the unnamed victim. This evidence is part of the investigation led by magistrate Rita Cialoni, who ordered Guede to face trial based on accusations stemming from his relationship with a 25-year-old woman from Viterbo.
The relationship began while Guede was serving his sentence and continued until it ended in 2023, when the woman reported allegations of sexual assault, mistreatment, and stalking. In a statement to CNN, Guede’s lawyer, Carlo Mezzetti, asserted that his client is innocent and expressed concerns about the fairness of the upcoming trial given Guede’s past conviction.
The Legacy of the Kercher Case
The murder of Meredith Kercher remains one of Italy’s most notorious criminal cases. Kercher was killed in a brutal attack in Perugia, where she was studying abroad. In the aftermath, both American student Amanda Knox and her then-boyfriend, Italian Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted for their alleged involvement in the murder. Their convictions were eventually overturned by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015 after a lengthy legal battle.
Knox continues to face legal repercussions related to the case, having been convicted of slander for falsely accusing her former nightclub boss, Patrick Lumumba, of Kercher’s murder. The complex and often controversial proceedings of the Kercher case have left a lasting impact on the individuals involved and the broader discourse on justice in Italy.
As the legal process unfolds, many will be watching Guede’s new trial closely, given its connection to one of Italy’s most high-profile criminal cases. The outcome could have significant implications for Guede’s future and for the ongoing narrative surrounding the tragedy of Meredith Kercher.
