Italian prosecutors: Coed cut 23 times

PERUGIA, Italy, April 5 (UPI) -- Slain British coed Meredith Kercher sustained 23 wounds, pointing to more than one assailant, Italian prosecutors say.

Prosecutors at the Perugia, Italy, murder trial of U.S. student Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, said Friday that Kercher's many wounds supported their theory that Knox -- who was Kercher's roommate -- Sallecito and a third man all took part in the 2007 killing, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The newspaper said police pathologist Luca Lalli testified that Kercher sustained injuries to her hands, face, neck and legs, adding that there had also been evidence of sexual activity before she died.

Lalli also reportedly testified that Kercher's body bore no "biological evidence of a sexual attack," but it was nonetheless likely she had been forced into "non-consensual sex" judging by the number of bruises on her body.

The Telegraph said the evidence was presented in private after a ruling by the judge granting a request from the Kercher family.