Raffaele Sollecito was Amanda Knox’s ex-boyfriend and was initially sentenced with her for the murder of Meredith Kercher, a British student. He has now spoken out in rare interview.
Ms Kercher was a 21-year old exchange student who was found dead in Perugia, where she lived with Ms Knox, her American friend. Her throat was cut, and she had been stabbed 47 more times.
Ms Knox, Mr Sollecito were convicted of murder in 2009. However, the highest court in Italy quashed their convictions. They were released in 2015. Rudy Guede was also found guilty in 2008 after being tried separately. was released in 2015 after having served 13 years out of 16 years.
Now Mr Sollecito was interviewed by Paramount+ for Who Murdered Meredith Kercher?. He said that he still experiences discrimination and is “haunted” by what happened.
He said in a clip that Ms Kercher lost his family. The truth is, I have nothing to do with this crime. “I hope they accept it one day.”
John Kercher, Ms Kercher’s dad, died in 2020 from a hit-and-run. Her family has said that they may never know the truth about what happened to her before her death.
Following the murder, Ms Knox, and Mr Sollecito were both the focus of international headlines.
According to Mr Sollecito, his release from prison was “bittersweet”. He added: “Four year in prison. Six months in solitary confinement. That bitterness is still with me today. Even though I have moved on with my own life, it still haunts me.”
He said that he was accused of being an assassin “without an element of evidence” after his acquittal.
The new documentary will be made by documentary makers and will “get to heart the tragedy that has become one of the most misunderstood and infamous crimes of all time”.
Sollecito said that the murder of Ms Kercher was not a sex match that went wrong and that this was just another “made up scenario… I was in love with Amanda, a beautiful girl. I was so happy. I was so happy.
Guede’s separate trial is also being questioned by him, stating that there was no reason for Guede to be tried separately.
Guede, who denies killing Ms Kercher was initially convicted under a fast-track procedure. Guede was originally sentenced to 30 year imprisonment, but he appealed the sentence and was later reduced.
He was denied permission to appeal his conviction in 2017.
Ms. Knox was in Italy for the first-time in 2019, , and she broke down as she spoke at a conference on criminal justice.
Who Murdered Meredith Kercher Paramount+ will broadcast the story starting on 25 August.