Man under trial for Meredith Kercher's murder also accused of sexual assault
Rudy Guede, a 38-year-old man previously convicted for the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, is set to stand trial once more, this time for sexual assault charges. The trial, ordered by investigating magistrate Rita Cialoni, is scheduled to take place in the Viterbo court, with the first hearing set for November 4, 2025.
Guede is accused of mistreatment, assault, and sexual violence against his ex-girlfriend, a 25-year-old woman from Viterbo. The relationship between Guede and the woman lasted approximately one and a half years, during which incidents of violence and abuse allegedly occurred.
The new trial comes after Guede was released from prison at the end of 2021, following a reduction in his sentence for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher. Guede was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison for the crime, but his sentence was reduced on appeal.
The complaint against Guede was filed in the summer of 2023 by his ex-girlfriend, and he was placed under a restraining order monitored by an electronic bracelet in December 2023. The preliminary investigations judge, Rita Cialoni, has decided to send Guede to trial following deliberation.
The case has sparked significant media attention, with many questioning how justice addresses individuals with a history of serious crimes. This is not the first time Guede's name has been in the headlines; he was convicted in tandem with his then-roommate, Amanda Knox, for their alleged role in Kercher's murder in 2009. However, Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were fully exonerated by Italy's Supreme Court in 2015.
The case of Meredith Kercher's murder sparked a media frenzy, resulting in more than two dozen books and three films. The upcoming trial will focus on the charges of sexual assault and violence against Guede's former girlfriend.
Guede's lawyer, Carlo Mezzetti, has stated that Guede is innocent and fears he may not receive a fair trial given his previous conviction. Over 100,000 photos, thousands of chats, and audio messages between Guede and his ex-girlfriend will be considered as evidence in the trial.
Rudy Guede, a 38-year-old Ivory Coast native who has lived in Italy since the age of five, worked in Viterbo on work release from prison and continued to work there after his release. The trial will be closely watched by the public and media, as they await the outcome of this latest chapter in Guede's life.
- The world is closely watching the upcoming trial of Rudy Guede, a man convicted for the murder of Meredith Kercher in Italy, as he faces new sexual assault charges in Viterbo court.
- Europe's legal system is under close scrutiny as Rudy Guede, previously involved in general-news headlines for his violent past, prepares to stand trial for his alleged mistreatment and sexual violence against his ex-girlfriend in health-and-wellness and crime-and-justice matters.
- Scientific advancements have somewhat modernized the investigation process, with over 100,000 photos, thousands of chats, and audio messages serving as evidence in the trial of Rudy Guede, a man from Africa, now living in Europe, who has found himself center-stage once more in the realm of sexual-health and crime-and-justice news.
