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11. 03. 10. - 13:00

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11. 03. 10. - 13:00

Meredith Murder: Foxy Knoxy did it says Guede

Kathryn Quinn

One of the men jailed for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher has denied reports that he cleared flatmate Amanda Knox of the killing in a dramatic prison cell confession.

Former cellmate Mario Alessi told lawyers that Rudy Guede - one of the three convicted of Meredith's murder - had told him that neither Knox nor her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito had even seen the student on the night she died.

The interview - conducted as part of Sollecito's appeal procedure - emerged in the Italian media at the weekend.

But in an extraordinary two-page letter to local media, Guede, 22, described murderer Alessi's revelations as the "ravings of a mental patient."

"I watched on TV the raving of this filthy man named Alessi, who is only the monstrous killer of a little angel.

"I've never told him anything about my story. Neither he nor anyone else. I told everything during my trial and if I did have something else to say, I would say it to my lawyers," he wrote.

"Alessi's words were the ravings of a mental patient. I've always told the truth during the trial," he added.

Guede was sentenced to 16 years in jail for his part in the killing of Meredith at her apartment in Perugia, Italy, after she tried to resist being forced into a sex game.

"I still believe in Italian justice. I hope the judges will realise the truth sooner or later. I wasn't there, that was a terrible murder of a fantastic woman by Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito," added Guede.

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).

Rising handbal player hangs herself because of family quarels
A rising star of the Romanian handball was found hanged on Sunday (yesterday) in her family apartment in Drobeta Turnu Severin (South West), Romania TV news channel informs today.

Triumphant welcome in Bucharest for the national gymnastic team
The national team of gymnasts returned home today at noon from the European Championship held on Saturday and Sunday in Brussels, and was welcomed by a numerous crowd at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest.

Sorin Oprescu to win in a landslide, poll suggests
An opinion poll released today (Mon) makes the current Mayor Sorin Oprescu favourite for the Bucharest municipal elections, Realitatea TV news channel informs.