Two on trial over Kercher murder

Meredith Kercher's partially-clothed body was found locked in her bedroom

The trial of two people accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher is opening in Italy.

American Amanda Knox, 21, and Italian Raffaele Sollecito, 24, have been in jail for more than a year accused of the killing in Perugia.

A judge will decide on Friday whether their trial should be held in private.

Miss Kercher, from Coulsdon, south London, was found dead in November 2007. Rudy Hermann Guede, 21, has already been jailed for her murder.

Prosecutors claim the Leeds University student was killed as part of a bungled sex game involving Guede, her housemate Miss Knox, from Seattle, and the American's ex-boyfriend Mr Sollecito, from Bari in southern Italy.

She is not a victim, but the media has created a false picture of Amanda. Amanda Knox's lawyer

Miss Kercher had been studying in Perugia as part of a foreign exchange programme.

Guede, who pleaded guilty to her murder in a "fast-track" trial last year, was jailed for 30 years.

More than 140 members of the press are said to have requested access to the current trial and Miss Knox's legal team are believed to favour an open hearing.

They are attempting to block the publication of a book about her written by an Italian journalist.

Miss Knox's lawyer, Luciano Ghirga, confirmed that Miss Knox was seeking 500,000 euros (