The murder of Meredith Kercher took place in Perugia, Italy, on 1 November 2007. Police discovered the body of the 21-year-old British student, who was part of a university exchange programme, on 2 November 2007, at the house that she shared with other students. Kercher was found lying partially clothed under a duvet in her locked bedroom, her windpipe crushed and her throat partially slashed.

The event initially appeared to be a routine one-man rape-murder (with the man admitting he saw her die). However, it became highly notable in world media when prosecutors treated the event as a sexual torture killing, allegedly pre-planned by 3 people aged 20-23 who had known each other less than 3 weeks.

On 6 November 2007, police arrested 3 of 4 suspects: Patrick Diya Lumumba, Congolese owner of a local bar; Amanda Knox, an American student; and Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian student (and 2-week boyfriend of Knox). Lumumba was later released and exonerated.