Italian police investigating the murder of Meredith Kercher are testing blood-smeared hairs found in her hand that could have come from her killer or killers, it emerged today.

The Turin daily La Stampa said that several hairs had been found in the fingers of Ms Kercher's left hand "and now the laboratory examinations will tells us whether these bloody hairs belong to whoever killed her".

"We know that Meredith Kercher, on that evening of November 1, fought back and tried to defend herself," it added.

Police in Perugia, the Umbrian hilltop town where Ms Kercher was a student, refused to comment on the report or say to whom the hair might belong.

New witness 'saw Meredith suspects together'

Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Guede were see at the house in Perugia where the American student died

Multimedia

• Murder in Perugia

BACKGROUND

• Meredith Kercher: Q&A

• New DNA not from Meredith suspects

• Timings crucial to Kercher murder investigation

Related Links

• Timings crucial to Kercher murder investigation

• Meredith suspect caught on CCTV

• Doubts over Meredith suspect’s alibi

This afternoon, police will conduct an examination of the flat in Via Garibaldi occupied by Raffaele Sollecito, the Italian student accused of murdering Ms Chercher, along with Amanda Knox, his American girlfriend. Mr Sollecito claims to have spent the entire evening of November 1 and the following night there - the period when Ms Kercher bled to death after her throat was cut following attempted rape.

They will also examine his computer hard disk after his claim that he surfed the internet until 1am. Police also want to establish whether there is blood on the foot pedals of his car, an Audi, which has been impounded. Mr Sollecito's size 42-1/2 Nike trainers are already being subjected to forensic tests. According to police, they match a footprint found in blood on the floor of Ms Kercher's bedroom.

However Luca Maori, one of Mr Sollecito's lawyers, told The Times there were "thousands" of students who wore similar Nike trainers. He said that although police thought the depth of the knife thrust which killed Ms Kercher suggested a male attacker, "we don't see why the wound could not have been inflicted by a female hand".

Mr Maori said "initial results" of the forensic tests showed "no trace of blood" on Mr Sollecito's knives or his shoes. He added however "I speak in the conditional sense because we do not yet have absolute certainty".

In his initial testimony, Mr Sollecito gave Ms Knox an alibi by claiming she had been with him all the time on the night of the murder. He later changed his story, however, saying that he did not see her from 9pm to 1am, when she returned to his flat. Police allege that in fact Ms Knox, Mr Sollecito and Diya Lumumba, a Congolese bar owner known as Patrick, were all involved in the murder at the whitewashed cottage Ms Kercher shared with Ms Knox and two Italian women.

The results of tests on the shoes, on Ms Knox's clothing and on knives found in Mr Sollecito's possession will be announced on Thursday, according to defence lawyers. New tests are also being conducted for fingerprints on Ms Kercher's bloodstained duvet and pillow.

In interviews conducted from prison with Italian newspapers, Mr Sollecito has given details of his relationship with Ms Knox - and said that he never wants to see her again. "If I am here it's her fault above all," he said, answering questions through his lawyer. "I am conscious that contrary to what I thought, our paths have diverged profoundly."

Mr Sollecito said that he had been attracted to Ms Knox from the moment they met a classical music concert in early October. "I liked her face, her way of walking and laughing, above all her sweet nature." He said they had gone to bed the first evening, and she had moved in with him while continuing to keep her room at the cottage. "We made love every evening," he said.

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