Naman Shrestha
Hulu’s ‘Mouth of the Wolf: Amanda Knox Returns to Italy’ is a true crime documentary movie that chronicles the 2007 murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, and how it shaped the life of her roommate, Amanda Knox. The tragedy shook the entire nation, while grief took over Meredith’s loved ones. As the detectives investigated the case, they connected the murder to multiple individuals, who were charged and tried in connection with the crime. However, several years later, one of them was acquitted of the murder. The documentary features interviews with several individuals involved in the case and investigation, including the prosecutor and officials.
Meredith Kercher Was Found Dead in the Bedroom of Her Flat in Italy
Born on December 28, 1985, in Southwark, England, to John and Arline Kercher, Meredith Susanna Cara “Mez” Kercher shared a close-knit bond with her sisters, Stephanie and Lyle, and her brother, John Jr., while growing up in Coulsdon, England. Described as an intelligent and compassionate human, Meredith was also known for her sense of humor and style. After passing out from the Old Palace School in Croydon, she attended Leeds University, where she pursued European politics and Italian language. With aspirations to become a journalist or work for the European Union, in 2007, Meredith grabbed the opportunity to study at the University of Perugia in Perugia, Italy, for a few months as part of the ERASMUS student exchange programme.
She shared the first-floor flat of a villa at Via della Pergola 7 with three flatmates, including a 20-year-old American student named Amanda Knox. A couple of months later, on November 1, 2007, her life came to an abrupt end. The following day, her remains were found on the floor of her bedroom, partially clothed and covered by a duvet. According to reports, the 21-year-old student was reportedly sexually assaulted and physically attacked prior to her death. Moreover, the medical examiner found various bruises and cuts across her face. As for the cause of death, she had died from a fatal cut to her throat. Immediately, a homicide investigation was launched in order to get to the bottom of the horrific case.
Meredith Kercher’s Killing Was Linked to Three Individuals
Since Meredith Kercher shared the villa with Amanda Knox, the authorities suspected that the American student and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were involved in the murder. A few days after the killing, the detectives brought both Amanda and Raffaele in for questioning. After a long and intense interrogation session, Amanda reportedly admitted in a signed statement to being home when Meredith was killed and also implicated her then-employer, Patrick Lumumba, who was also taken into custody. However, a few hours later, Amanda wrote a note, alleging the confession was confused and coerced.
She wrote, “In regard to this ‘confession’ that I made last night, I want to make clear that I’m very doubtful of the verity of my statements because they were made under the pressures of stress, shock, and extreme exhaustion. Not only was I told I would be arrested and put in jail for 30 years, but I was also hit in the head when I didn’t remember a fact correctly.” After spending a few weeks in prison, Lumumba was eventually released and cleared of any involvement in the crime. A few weeks later, Rudy Guede, who was arrested for burglary about a week prior to the murder, was also identified as a suspect, as his DNA was found on Meredith. During his interview, he admitted to having sexual relations with Meredith but claimed that he was in the bathroom when another man killed her. Thus, on July 11, 2008, Amanda, Raffaele, and Rudy were formally charged with the murder of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher.
In 2009, Amanda and Raffaele were tried together and found guilty of Meredith’s murder. While the former was sentenced to 26 years in prison, Raffaele received a 25-year imprisonment sentence. Four years into their respective sentences, their convictions were overturned after various appeals, and they were definitively exonerated by the Italian Supreme Court in March 2015. However, Amanda had an ongoing slander case stemming from her comments about Patrick Lumumba, for which she was eventually convicted as of 2025. Meanwhile, Rudy Guede was tried separately, and in October 2008, he was convicted of the sexual assault and murder of Meredith Kercher. He was reportedly sentenced to 16 years in prison (a reduction from his initial 30-year sentence) for his involvement in the crime.
Read More: Gracie Muehlberger’s Murder Investigation and Timeline
