Meredith Suspect ‘Shopped for Lingerie’

By NICK PISA

MURDER suspect Amanda Knox and her boyfriend went shopping for underwear hours after the body of Meredith Kercher was discovered, it was revealed today.

American Knox, 20, the British student’s flatmate, was seen laughing and joking in the lingerie shop by staff who informed police after the couple’s arrest earlier this month, according a leaked police witness statement.

The shop assistant told police how Knox and her computer-studies boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, came into the lingerie shop in Perugia on November 3 the day after Meredith had been found.

Knox and Sollecito spent 30 minutes laughing and joking, while Knox held up knickers and bras much to Sollecito’s enjoyment.

The assistant said: “They were very relaxed and they were hugging and kissing each other continuously. It was complete exhibitionism. At one point the couple moved towards the cash desk where the tanga underwear is kept.

“Amanda and Raffaele looked at them and then she picked up a couple of pairs. She said, ‘Well, put these on at home and then have sex.’ ” DNA tests results released last night confirmed that murder suspect Rudy Hermann Guede had sex with Meredith.

The news was announced by forensic scientists after two days of tests on items seized from Guede’s flat.

Perugia police chief Giacinto Profazio said: “There was a positive DNA match from the swab taken from the victim and Guede’s toothbrush.

“That DNA also matched the fingerprint found on the pillow and on lavatory paper.” Guede has admitted being in Meredith’s apartment the night she died but denied killing her.

Instead he has said she was attacked by an “unknown Italian” and that he had tried to save her life.

Guede was arrested in Germany on Tuesday nearly three weeks after he left Perugia.

Mr Profazio added that he expected Guede to be extradited and back in Perugia around 10 December..

(c) 2007 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.