Family of slain British student seeks $33 million in damages

ROME — A lawyer representing the family of a British student slain in Central Italy said Monday he is seeking a total of $33 million in damages from three suspects in the case.

Francesco Maresca said Monday he wants damages from University of Washington student Amanda Knox, of Seattle; her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito; and Ivorian citizen Rudy Hermann Guede. The three are accused of fatally stabbing Meredith Kercher in the city of Perugia.

All three deny killing her.

A court is hearing arguments on whether Knox and Sollecito should stand trial on murder charges. A ruling is expected by the end of this month.

Guede is undergoing a fast-track trial at his request, and prosecutors asked the court to sentence him to life in prison for the killing last November.

Italian law allows victims of a crime, or their family members, to attach a civil lawsuit to a criminal trial to seek damages. Maresca said the request was attached to Guede's trial but will be extended to Sollecito and Knox if they are indicted.

The lawyer had attached the civil lawsuit when the proceedings opened in September, but Monday was the first time he asked the court to assign a specific sum.