'More than one attacked Meredith'

Prosecution witness Vincenza Liviero took the stand behind closed doors in the trial of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in Perugia for the murder of Meredith kercher.

Ms Liviero told reporters at the end of the hearing: "It was an action carried out by more than two hands, and there was sexual violence."

"There were so many wounds, caused by a knife and caused by hands," prosecuting lawyer Francesco Maresca said. "The only way they could have been from one person is if that person had three or four hands."

A second witness, gynaecologist and prosecution consultant Mauro Marchionni, also testified that the bruises on Miss Kercher's body were not compatible with consensual sex, Maresca said.

Graphic images from the post-mortem examination were shown during the hearing. Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini said Knox did not look at them and kept her head down. Sollecito glanced at them sporadically, he said.

On Friday, coroner Luca Lalli, who performed the post-mortem examination, testified he couldn't say with certainty whether Miss Kercher had been raped, though bruises and cuts on her face, neck, hands and legs suggested violence during intercourse.

Knoz and Sollecito are being tried on charges of murder and sexual violence for the 2007 death of Leeds University student Meredith.

A third suspect, Ivory Coast national Rudy Hermann Guede, was convicted on identical charges last year after a 'fast-track' trial and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Ms Liviero's testimony was ruled closed to the public and press to comply with a request from Miss Kercher's family to preserve the victim's memory.