Meredith Kercher latest: The trial must go on

The two people accused over the murder of UK student Meredith Kercher have had their request for DNA evidence to be thrown out rejected.

Lawyers for American Amanda Knox and Italian Raffaele Sollecito said forensic evidence already submitted was unreliable.

But Judge Giancarlo Massei, resuming the long-running murder trial after a two-month summer break, said proceedings should continue.

Ms Knox, 22, and Mr Sollecito, 25, both deny murdering Leeds University student Ms Kercher, who was found dead with her throat slit at the home she shared with Ms Knox in Perugia on November 21st 2007.

Ms Knox claims she was at her then boyfriend Mr Sollecito's house on the night of the murder, but prosecution lawyers claim they killed Ms Kercher after she refused to take part in a violent sex game.

One man - Rudy Guede - has already been jailed for 30 years after opting for a fast-track trial over the murder of Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon, Surrey.

He has since launched an appeal over the conviction.

The crucial forensic evidence that Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito are contesting centres on the latter's DNA being founded on a bloodied metal hook from Ms Kercher's bra and the former's DNA being found on the handle of a 30cm kitchen knife.

Although no conclusive murder weapon has been found, DNA from Ms Kercher was found on the blade of the knife, which was from Mr Sollecito's kitchen.