'MEREDITH WAS KILLED IN ROW OVER MONEY' - RUDY GUEDE.

Byline: ADRIAN SHAW 

A DRIFTER jailed for killing British student Meredith Kercher yesterday claimed he heard her rowing with flatmate Amanda Knox about missing money minutes before she was murdered.

Rudy Guede, 22, who was launching an appeal against his conviction and 30-year sentence, said he was in the bathroom when he heard the raised voices of Meredith and Knox.

He added: "They were discussing the missing money. I heard Meredith say 'We need to talk'. Then I heard a loud scream. It was above the volume of the music. I was worried, it was so loud."

Guede claims he came out of bathroom as Knox fled the flat in Perugia, Italy - and found Meredith bleeding to death from stab wounds. He claimed he also saw the silhouette of a man in the flat as he tried to help Meredith, 22.

Guede, who is from the Ivory Coast said: "I got some towels and put them where the blood was coming out from the throat. I just went into shock."

He told the court in Perugia he fled the flat in a panic but denied any part in the killing of Meredith. He added: "I want to tell Meredith's family I didn't kill or rape their little girl."

Prosecutors described Guede's story as "a fairy tale". They say Meredith was murdered by Guede, Knox and Knox's boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito after she resisted their attempts to force her to take part in a sex game.

The murder trial of Knox, 22, and Sollecito, 25, will resume tomorrow after Guede's appeal has been heard.

CAPTION(S):

STABBED Meredith Kercher MERCY PLEA Guede says he didn't kill Meredith MURDER TRIAL Amanda Knox