A warrant for the arrest of a fourth suspect in the murder of British study abroad student Meredith Kercher, roommate of UW student and suspect Amanda Knox, has been released, according to Perugian public prosecutor Giuliano Mignini in a Nov. 18 article in La Repubblica ("Meredith, svolta sul quarto uomo pronto un altro ordine di arresto").

Investigators first became aware of the fourth suspect during the initial interrogations of Knox, who mentioned his name, according to the article.

Other friends of Knox and Kercher, who were questioned immediately following the crime, also referred to a strange man who frequented the same nightspots as the two girls, according to a another Nov. 18 report in La Repubblica ("Giallo Perugia, in casa di Sollecito nessuno scontrino del 2 novembre").

Mignini obtained an order of arrest from Italian judge Claudia Matteini after a forensics team analyzed a bloody fingerprint found on Kercher's pillowcase.

"There are still many aspects to look into," investigators said, according to La Repubblica.

The man is purported to be of African descent and a drug dealer, although police have refused to confirm whether the suspect has a criminal record.

Of the three suspects in custody, which include Knox and Italian student Raffaele Sollecito, bar owner Patrick 'Diya' Lumumba is the only one who is not linked to the case through DNA evidence. Last week traces of DNA from Knox and Kercher were found on a knife belonging to Sollecito.

The suspects may be detained for up to a year until the case is resolved.

[Reach reporter Arla Shephard at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]