Retesting of the items [Le operazioni peritali] began on February 09, 2011, at 11:15 am, at the Forensic Genetics Laboratory of the Section of Forensic Medicine of Sapienza University of Rome, 336 Viale Regina Elena.
On that date, the following consultants for the parties were present:
-Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni, consultant for the Prosecutor’s Office [Procura Generale];
-Prof. Giuseppe Novelli, consultant for the Prosecutor’s Office;
-Dr. Emiliano Giardina, consultant for the Prosecutor’s Office;
-Prof. Francesca Torricelli, consultant for the civil plaintiff [i.e. the victim’s family];
-Prof. Adriano Tagliabracci, consultant for Raffaele Sollecito;
-Dr. Valerio Onofri, consultant for Raffaele Sollecito;
-Prof. Carlo Torre, consultant for Amanda M. Knox;
-Dr. Sarah Gino, consultant for Amanda M. Knox;
-Dr. Walter Patumi, consultant for Amanda M. Knox.
In the memorandum drafted at this session, it was noted “that the items labeled Item 36 and Item 165/b were transferred according to regulation on 2/8/2011, as ordered by His Honor Presiding Judge Hellmann, and as attested in the transfer memordandum dated 2/8/2011. It is recorded that at the moment of transfer, both items were regularly sealed in a single envelope (in involucro singolo), and in particular Item 36, no. 00015662 [was] locked in a carton [scatola di cartone] by means of a red-colored safety seal with the number 0000179, and Item 165/b no. 00012877 was contained in a tube with a red-colored top, as also revealed by the visual documentation [documentazione iconografica] by both the appointed experts and the Assigned Officer [Agente Scelto] of the State Police (Ugo Arcuri)”.
In the memorandum, the consultents for the parties expressed their requests in writing. These are reported below:
1. Dr. Sarah Gino: “Quantification with Real Time”;
2. Prof. Tagliabracci and Dr. Onofri: “If material is available, request that the experts repeat the DNA test on any extract from Item 165B in the possession of the Scientific Police”;
3. Dr. Stefanoni, Prof. Novelli, Dr. Giardina, Prof. Torricelli: “utilize the most sensitive techniques in a parallel and in a manner comparable to those used in the previous experiment”;
4. Dr. Gino, Prof. Torre: “Request that upon opening the items, any traces (streaks etc.) present on the knife be compared with photographic images from the initial investigation (inspection, laboratory tests, etc.)”;
5. Prof Tagliabracci: “concur”;
6. Dr. Onofri: “concur”
7. Prof. Novelli, Dr. Giardina: “No statement on the matter”;
8. Prof. Torricelli: “No statement in reference to knife item”;
9. Dr. Stefanoni: “No statement regarding the viewing of the items”.
The appointed experts, taking note of the matters raised by the parties, communicate to the latter that they will be reconvened according to law for testing. 12:30 pm, Rome, 2/9/2011″.
Testing continued on 03/22/2011, at 9:45 am, at the Forensic Genetics Laboratory of the Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic, and Locomotive Sciences — Section of Forensic Medicine of the Sapienza University of Rome.
On this date the following consultants for the parties were present:
-Dr. Patrizia Stefanoni, consultant for the Prosecutor’s Office;
-Prof. Giuseppe Novelli, consultant for the Prosecutor’s Office;
-Prof. Francesca Torricelli, consultant for the civil plaintiff;
-Prof. Adriano Tagliabracci, consultant for Raffaele Sollecito;
-Dr. Valerio Onofri, consultant for Raffaele Sollecito;
-Prof. Carlo Torre, consultant for Amanda M. Knox;
-Dr. Sarah Gino, consultant for Amanda M. Knox;
-Dr. Walter Patumi, consultant for Amanda M. Knox.
At this session, the experts explained the plan [piano di lavoro] which, in accordance with forensic methodology, was to perform the laboratory tests on Item 36 and Item 165B in the following manner:
1) generic test for blood, employing colorimetric tests;
2) specific test for blood;
3) search for cells by means of specific coloration and observation under the microscope;
4) extraction of DNA from each individual item;
5) quantification of DNA via Real Time PCR, as requested and agreed upon by all consultants.
In the memorandum drafted at this session, the following was recorded: “It is noted by all present that both items, labeled Item 36 and Item 165/B, are regularly sealed in a single envelope and in particular Item 36 no. 00015662 [is] locked in a carton by means of a red-colored safety seal with the number 0000179 and Item 165/b no.00012877 contained in a tube with red-colored top, as revealed by the visual documentation by the appointed experts. It is noted that Prof. Giuseppe Novelli removed himself from the testing session at 10:15 am. At 2:45 pm, Prof. Carlo Torre, Dr. Patumi, Prof. Tagliabracci, and Dr. Onofri also removed themselves. Testing was interrupted at 6:05 pm and it was agreed to continue on the next day 3/23/2011 at 9:45 am.
On 3/22/2011, the box containing Item 36 (knife) was opened first, followed by the envelope [busta] containing the tube inside of which the clasps (Item 165B) were placed.
The Conti-Vecchiotti Report 