Italian Judge to Rule in Co-Ed Death Case

The family of a British student slain last year in Perugia, Italy, says it will seek compensation from the alleged attackers for the death of the young woman.

An Italian judge was expected to rule Tuesday whether one of the three suspects in the case is guilty in the slaying of Meredith Kercher, and whether two other suspects should go on trial, The Times of London reported.

During a pre-trial hearing, Perugia prosecutor Giuliano Mignini rejected defense claims that police forensic experts contaminated DNA evidence that placed all three suspects — Ivory Coast immigrant Rudy Guede, Kercher’s American roommate Amanda Knox, and Knox’s ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito — at the crime scene.

Prosecutors alleged the three took part in a sex party fed by drugs in which Kercher, an unwilling participant, died. Kercher was found dead Nov. 2, 2006 with her throat slit.

Guede, Knox and Sollecito all deny the allegations.

Kercher’s parents, her sister and brother said they hoped for “justice” for Kercher, announcing they also would seek compensation for her loss.