Rudy Guede, the only individual definitively convicted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in 2007, is set to return to court this fall. He faces charges of sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. The trial will commence on November 4, 2023, in Viterbo, Italy, where Guede’s actions during and after their relationship will be scrutinized.
Guede, a 38-year-old native of the Ivory Coast, has lived in Italy since childhood. In October 2008, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Kercher’s murder, which took place in Perugia. His sentence was later reduced on appeal, and he was released early for good behavior in 2021. The high-profile case generated significant media attention, resulting in numerous books and films examining the events surrounding Kercher’s death.
The upcoming trial will consider a substantial body of evidence, including over 100,000 photographs and thousands of chat messages and audio recordings between Guede and the unnamed victim. Following a preliminary hearing led by investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni, the court has determined that these materials will form part of the prosecution’s case.
The allegations against Guede stem from an incident involving a 25-year-old woman, whom he dated while on work release and after his release from prison. Their relationship reportedly ended in 2023 when the woman filed charges against him, which include accusations of sexual assault, mistreatment, and stalking.
Guede is also known for his previous convictions related to Kercher’s murder, a case that saw considerable legal turmoil. Initially convicted alongside Amanda Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito in 2009, both Knox and Sollecito were fully exonerated by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015. Despite their acquittal, Knox remains convicted of slander for wrongly accusing her former nightclub boss, Patrick Lumumba, of Kercher’s murder.
As Guede prepares for his upcoming trial, his lawyer, Carlo Mezzetti, has stated that Guede maintains his innocence and is concerned about the potential for an unfair trial due to his prior conviction. The legal proceedings will undoubtedly draw renewed public interest as they unfold, reflecting the ongoing impact of the Kercher case in both Italian society and international discourse.