KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Prosecutors request life in prison for American suspect at Italy murder trial
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Associated Press - November 21, 2009 9:05 PM ET
PERUGIA, Italy (AP) - Prosecutors have requested life sentences for a Seattle student and her former Italian boyfriend accused of killing a young British woman in Italy.
Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini asked a jury in Perugia Saturday to convict Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito on charges of murder and sexual violence for their alleged role in the 2007 slaying of Meredith Kercher. They deny wrongdoing.
Knox took a deep breath when Mignini made his request. Life in prison is Italy's stiffest punishment.
She then addressed the court, saying that the accusations against her were "pure fantasy."
Fighting back tears, Knox said in Italian "Meredith was my friend, I didn't hate her."
Mignini argued that Knox, Sollecito and a third man who was convicted in a separate trial killed Kercher during a drug-induced sex game.
The Briton's body was found on the morning of Nov. 2, 2007, in the apartment she shared with Knox.
A verdict is expected in early December.
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