Italy Trial: Shoeprint Under Victim's Body

A woman's shoe print compatible with the shoe size of U.S. student Amanda Knox was found on a pillow under the body of her slain roommate, a detective told an Italian court Saturday.

Monica Napoleoni, who heads the homicide squad in the city of Perugia, testified that forensic experts determined the shoe's size ranged from 36 to 38 (U.S. size 6 to 7 1/2) and that Knox wears a 37 (6 1/2).

Francesco Maresca, a lawyer for the family of victim Meredith Kercher, told The Associated Press during a break in the trial session that the print has not been matched to any specific shoe yet. Outside the courtroom, Knox defense lawyers dismissed the testimony about the print as insignificant.

Knox and her Italian former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are being tried for the murder of British student Kercher in this university town. Both deny any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that Kercher was killed during what began as a sex game, with Sollecito holding her by the shoulders from behind while Knox touched her with the point of a knife. They say Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede tried to sexually assault Kercher and then Knox fatally stabbed her in the throat. Guede was convicted of murder in a separate trial last year and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Sollecito stood up in court Saturday to claim that police had denied his requests to call his father and a lawyer the night he was questioned, a few days after 21-year-old Kercher was found stabbed to death in her bedroom in November 2007. He said police took off his shoes "without giving a reason" and "left me barefoot all night."

Knox also claimed she was treated badly while at police headquarters for questioning. Speaking Italian in a confident-sounding voice, she said it was only after she gave police statement that she was "treated like a person" and given food and drink.

Homicide squad officer Lorena Zugarini in court testimony denied that Knox was beaten or otherwise mistreated during questioning and said drinks were provided even before Knox started making statements.

Knox previously claimed she was hit on the head by police, a claim that authorities have vigorously denied.

Police could not immediately reached for comment on Sollecito's complaint.

In Italian trials, defendants sometimes make spontaneous declarations.

Also on Saturday, policewoman Rita Ficarra, testified that Knox grew "bothered and tired" by police questioning.

"I told her off, and I asked her: `Don't you realize we're talking about the murder of a friend of yours?'" Ficarra told the court.

Ficarra added that while other friends of Kercher appeared sad when they were taken to the police station, Knox was seen "jumping around," kissing Sollecito and staying close to him.
By Associated Press Writer Marta Falconi