'American student's DNA found on knife'

Traces of DNA from the murdered British student Meredith Kercher and Amanda Knox, an American accused of killing her in a violent sex game, have allegedly been found on a knife at the home of Ms Knox's lover.

Ms Knox's DNA was discovered near the handle of the knife, while her flatmate Ms Kercher's DNA was found near the tip, according to police in the Italian city of Perugia. The black-handled, 8in kitchen knife was found at the house of Raffaele Sollecito, 23.

According to police, Ms Kercher had never visited Mr Sollecito's house. The blade which yielded the evidence was not one of the weapons he said he was in the habit of carrying at all times – two of which were seized.

The DNA was extracted from minute traces of biological fluid that remained on the blade, even though it had been washed.

Yesterday, police cordoned off Le Chic, the bar owned by the third suspect Patrick Lumumba – a 37-year-old Congolese musician who was said by Ms Knox to have gone to her flat on the night of the murder and to have paired off with Ms Kercher. The 21-year-old, from Coulsdon, Surrey, was found with her throat cut on 2 November.