U.S. co-ed faces trial in Italy

SEATTLE, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. college student Amanda Knox will face trial this week in Italy for the alleged November 2007 slaying of British exchange student Meredith Kercher.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Monday that Knox's ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, will also stand trial for the death of Kercher, who was found with her throat slashed in a Perugia, Italy, apartment she and Knox shared.

Knox, a former University of Washington student, was in Perugia to study Italian, the newspaper reported.

The Post-Intelligencer said King County Superior Court Judge Mike Heavey has accused Mignini of aggressively prosecuting Knox to avoid personal embarrassment.

Meanwhile, some legal observers in Italy defend the judge's reputation.

"Mignini is considered an optimal prosecutor," local defense attorney Valter Biscotti said. "As a man of law and resident of Perugia, I cannot accept these unjust criticisms of Italian magistrates and the judicial system coming from Seattle."