Knox defense hits setback in slaying trial

PERUGIA, Italy, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Lawyers for a U.S. student facing a murder charge in Italy suffered a setback Friday when a judge rejected a request for an expert to review DNA evidence.

Amanda Knox, 21, and co-defendant Raffaele Scotecito are on trial in Perugia, charged with murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in what the prosecution says was a drug-fueled sex game gone wrong, ABC News reported.

Knox, a West Seattle native, was a student at the University of Washington studying in Perugia when Kercher was killed at an apartment they shared in November 2007.

Knox's defense team had asked the judge to appoint an independent expert to review DNA evidence found on a knife police allege was the murder weapon as well as other DNA evidence.

The defense's experts criticized the prosecutors' handling of the DNA evidence and the conclusions they drew from that evidence. Defense attorneys said an independent expert would have testified their expert was correct.

The judge adjourned the trial until Nov. 20, when closing arguments are to begin.

Knox and Scotecito denied they killed Kercher, a Leeds University student.

A third suspect, Rudy Guede, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the murder. He has appealed.