Rudy Guede, the only individual definitively convicted of the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, is set to face trial this fall for charges of sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. The trial is scheduled to commence on November 4, 2023, in Viterbo, where Guede will respond to allegations related to his past relationship with a 25-year-old woman.
Guede, who is currently 38 years old and hails from the Ivory Coast, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Kercher’s murder in October 2008. His sentence was later reduced on appeal, and he was released early for good behavior in 2021. The high-profile nature of the Kercher case has led to a significant media frenzy, inspiring over two dozen books and three films.
The upcoming trial will consider extensive evidence, including more than 100,000 photos and thousands of messages exchanged between Guede and the unnamed victim, as outlined by investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni. Reports indicate that Guede and his former girlfriend began dating while he was still incarcerated, but their relationship ended in 2023 when the woman filed charges against him.
Guede’s legal troubles are compounded by the history of the Kercher case, which saw Amanda Knox, Kercher’s roommate, and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito convicted in connection with the murder in 2009. Both were fully exonerated by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015 after a lengthy and complex legal battle. Knox remains convicted of slander for falsely accusing her former nightclub boss, Patrick Lumumba, of Kercher’s murder in 2007.
As Guede prepares for his new trial, his lawyer, Carlo Mezzetti, stated to CNN that his client maintains his innocence. Mezzetti expressed concerns about Guede’s ability to receive a fair trial given his previous conviction.
The upcoming proceedings are expected to draw significant attention, given the case’s history and the nature of the new allegations against Guede. The outcome could have implications not only for Guede but also for the broader context surrounding the infamous murder case that captivated international audiences.