Rafaelle Sollecito

Italian Rafaelle Sollecito is the former boyfriend of American Amanda Knox. On December 5, 2009 in Italy, both were convicted by a jury for the murder of Knox's roommate Meredith Kercher.Times Online: We Are Innocent Lovebirds Not Meredith Kercher’s Murderers, Trial Told (January 17, 2009) Another man, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison in 2008. Sollecito and Knox have said they were at his apartment the day Kercher died. Knox later changed her story and said she was in the kitchen of the apartment when Kercher died. Her stepfather have said she changed the story because of abuse and intimidation from police during interrogations.First Post: Amanda Knox was ‘beaten by police’, says stepfather (March 20, 2009)

British student Meredith Kercher shared an apartment with American Amanda Knox while living in Perguia, Italy, to study Italian. On November 1, 2007, Kercher was found semi-naked in her apartment with a fatal stab wound in her neck. Allegedly, Kercher refused to participate in a sexual orgy with Knox and Sollecito and their friend, Rudy Guede.

On February 27, 2009, former flying squad chief Domenico Profazio told a court in Perugia, Italy that Knox and Sollecito had a "strange attitude" after being called into the police station to be interviewed. Profazio said that at one point Knox was doing cartwheels and splits in the station. Profazio had to tell the couple that they were acting inappropriately after Knox allegedly sat on Sollecito's lap while awaiting interrogation. Profazio also presented DNA evidence which he says links the couple to the murder, though prosecutors suggested that the DNA samples might have been contaminated and that the couple were not present in Kercher's apartment on the day of the murder.BBC News: Kercher suspect 'did cartwheels'

On January 16, 2009, the trial against Rafaelle Sollecito and his former girlfriend Amanda Knox began in Italy, but instead of discussing trial procedures and documents, the defense used the media spotlight to present their clients in a more favorable light, referring to them as "innocent lovebirds", not murderers. Both defendants were present, and Sollecito was dressed casually with his hair cut short. He glanced at Knox several times, but she kept herself turned away from him.

Guede was found guilty of murder and rape and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the murder of Meredith Kercher on October 28, 2008.FoxNews: American Student, Co-Defendant Indicted in Slain British Coed Case (October 28, 2008)