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Meredith Kercher, a British exchange student studying at a university for foreigners in Perugia, Italy, was found dead at 13:25 on All Souls' Day, November 2, 2007. When her locked bedroom door was kicked in, the first thing police saw (they were investigating a stolen phone report) was Meredith’s foot on the floor, poking out under her duvet. Under the duvet was a bloodbath; Meredith was half naked, around her was a mass of Kercher's hair and dried blood.
Her death was caused not by the two deep vertical incisions to her neck, nor did she die because of 47 cuts and bruises. Meredith Kercher died over ten minutes or more, slowly suffocating as blood drained into her airpipe. By the end of it, her murderers were covered in her Meredith’s blood.
Besides its brutality, the crime was shockingly amateurish. Kercher’s killers left an orgy of bloodied shoe and footprints. Crime scene analysis showed compelling evidence Kercher’s body was moved after her death. A broken window suggested a burglary. But why were none of the expensive notebook computers stolen? Why was Meredith’s MacBook still on her desk? Why did the killer lock Meredith’s door before fleeing, yet leave the front door open? A cryptic phone message to the police, left by one of the prime suspects, described the crime scene as a ‘burglary’. DECEIT provides an audio link to this message, and a smorgasbord of photos, news reports, interviews, maps, crime scene evidence and court testimony.
If the evidence trail led directly to three suspects, what was less clear was a motive. Who would do this to 21 year old Kercher, and why?
Photojournalist and bestselling author of the Oscar Pistorius and Jodi Arias series of crime narratives, Nick van der Leek takes on his toughest assignment yet. With so much evidence left at the crime scene, the murder of Meredith Kercher remains shrouded in myth, PR spin and mystery. In DECEITT Nick van der Leek attempts to solve the mystery of Kercher’s death once and for all.
“We know there was more than one attacker because Kercher had only three very slight defensive wounds. Kercher, who was also sexually assaulted, had injuries to the back of her head and elbows, as well as bruises to her throat, nose, lips and arms. Her temperament and her karate training, and the length of time of the attack, meant several attackers had worked together to restrain her. Given the length of time of this attack, and the torture that preceded it, this crime was worse – by some distance - than the slaughter of Travis Alexander. But who could be worse than Jodi Arias?”
Who were these people?
On Friday the 27th of March, 2015, after two convictions and an acquittal in a legal battle lasting almost eight years, all charges - including a 26 year prison sentence - were finally dropped against Meredith Kercher's roommate. Her name?
Amanda Knox.
Her death was caused not by the two deep vertical incisions to her neck, nor did she die because of 47 cuts and bruises. Meredith Kercher died over ten minutes or more, slowly suffocating as blood drained into her airpipe. By the end of it, her murderers were covered in her Meredith’s blood.
Besides its brutality, the crime was shockingly amateurish. Kercher’s killers left an orgy of bloodied shoe and footprints. Crime scene analysis showed compelling evidence Kercher’s body was moved after her death. A broken window suggested a burglary. But why were none of the expensive notebook computers stolen? Why was Meredith’s MacBook still on her desk? Why did the killer lock Meredith’s door before fleeing, yet leave the front door open? A cryptic phone message to the police, left by one of the prime suspects, described the crime scene as a ‘burglary’. DECEIT provides an audio link to this message, and a smorgasbord of photos, news reports, interviews, maps, crime scene evidence and court testimony.
If the evidence trail led directly to three suspects, what was less clear was a motive. Who would do this to 21 year old Kercher, and why?
Photojournalist and bestselling author of the Oscar Pistorius and Jodi Arias series of crime narratives, Nick van der Leek takes on his toughest assignment yet. With so much evidence left at the crime scene, the murder of Meredith Kercher remains shrouded in myth, PR spin and mystery. In DECEITT Nick van der Leek attempts to solve the mystery of Kercher’s death once and for all.
“We know there was more than one attacker because Kercher had only three very slight defensive wounds. Kercher, who was also sexually assaulted, had injuries to the back of her head and elbows, as well as bruises to her throat, nose, lips and arms. Her temperament and her karate training, and the length of time of the attack, meant several attackers had worked together to restrain her. Given the length of time of this attack, and the torture that preceded it, this crime was worse – by some distance - than the slaughter of Travis Alexander. But who could be worse than Jodi Arias?”
Who were these people?
On Friday the 27th of March, 2015, after two convictions and an acquittal in a legal battle lasting almost eight years, all charges - including a 26 year prison sentence - were finally dropped against Meredith Kercher's roommate. Her name?
Amanda Knox.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2015
39 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2020
A Mystery to be sure
I've read quite a few of Mr. Van Der Leek's books and become used to his style. He slowly unfolds a case, methodically. If you're impatient for a "who-dunit" then you probably want Nancy Grace. If you pay attention to True Crime, Van Der Leek does do his homework. I think he missed some subtleties in other cases but if the analogy were darts, I wouldn't want to play against him.
Van Der Leek also brings a cross-cultural aspect to the cases he writes about. Very few True Crime writers do that. So if you are ready for a roller coaster on this particular subject, I encourage you to put aside what you think you may or may not know.
I've read quite a few of Mr. Van Der Leek's books and become used to his style. He slowly unfolds a case, methodically. If you're impatient for a "who-dunit" then you probably want Nancy Grace. If you pay attention to True Crime, Van Der Leek does do his homework. I think he missed some subtleties in other cases but if the analogy were darts, I wouldn't want to play against him.
Van Der Leek also brings a cross-cultural aspect to the cases he writes about. Very few True Crime writers do that. So if you are ready for a roller coaster on this particular subject, I encourage you to put aside what you think you may or may not know.
April 22, 2021
Total nonsense. Nick and his sidekick have no business writing what they claim to be non-fiction.
I just don't buy this authors fantasy . I don't know if Knox killed Meredith Mercury but this book is crazy town. It's more like fiction. Sorry Nick and Lisa. I think you should look for another occupation. I've read several of your books. You simply sound like you are on drugs. How can anyone buy your nonsense?
I just don't buy this authors fantasy . I don't know if Knox killed Meredith Mercury but this book is crazy town. It's more like fiction. Sorry Nick and Lisa. I think you should look for another occupation. I've read several of your books. You simply sound like you are on drugs. How can anyone buy your nonsense?
March 26, 2018
Brilliant book
Can’t wait to read the next one, very intriguing, very well written and informative thank you nick, an amazing read
Can’t wait to read the next one, very intriguing, very well written and informative thank you nick, an amazing read
January 2, 2021
Informative
This book has a lot of good information, but there are a lot of grammatical errors. It needs an editor.
This book has a lot of good information, but there are a lot of grammatical errors. It needs an editor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews