Rudy Guede, the only individual definitively convicted in the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy in 2007, is set to face trial this fall on charges of sexual assault and violence against a former girlfriend. The court proceedings are scheduled to commence on November 4, 2023 in Viterbo, where Guede will respond to allegations stemming from a relationship he had with a 25-year-old woman.
Guede, a 38-year-old native of the Ivory Coast who has resided in Italy since childhood, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Kercher’s murder in October 2008. His sentence was subsequently reduced upon appeal, and he was released early for good behavior in 2021. The case, which has captivated public attention, has led to the publication of over two dozen books and the production of three films.
The upcoming trial will consider extensive evidence, including more than 100,000 photographs and thousands of chats and audio messages exchanged between Guede and the unnamed victim. This evidence was detailed by investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni, who ordered Guede to stand trial during a preliminary hearing.
According to Italian media reports, Guede and the woman began their relationship while he was still incarcerated. The relationship ended in 2023 when she filed charges against him, alleging sexual assault, mistreatment, and stalking. Guede had begun working in Viterbo on a work-release program during his incarceration and continued to work there after his release.
The murder of Meredith Kercher remains a highly publicized case. Guede was convicted alongside American student Amanda Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, who were implicated in the crime in 2009. However, both Knox and Sollecito were fully exonerated by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2015 after a lengthy legal battle. Knox is currently serving a conviction for slander related to her earlier accusations against Patrick Lumumba, a former nightclub boss, in connection with Kercher’s murder.
Guede’s lawyer, Carlo Mezzetti, expressed to CNN his belief in his client’s innocence and raised concerns about the fairness of the upcoming trial given Guede’s prior conviction. As the new trial approaches, it will likely draw significant media attention, reflecting the ongoing interest in one of Italy’s most notorious criminal cases.
