Barman claims £462,000 for Amanda Knox accusation

A barman arrested in connection with the murder of Meredith Kercher after being wrongly named by Amanda Knox was today due to ask an Italian court for £462,000 damages.

Diya "Patrick" Lumumba, 38, was arrested after Knox, 21, told police he murdered Miss Kercher and she "covered her ears to cover up her screams" as he did. Armed police went to Mr Lumumba's house at dawn and dragged him from his bed in front of his shocked wife and son.

Knox is accused with her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, of murdering and sexually assaulting the 21-year-old British exchange student after she allegedly refused to take part in a drug-fuelled sex game.

Miss Kercher, of Coulsdon, Surrey, was found semi naked with her throat cut in her bedroom of the house she shared with Knox and two other women in Perugia in November 2007.

Last week police said Knox put her hands to her head and screamed: "It was Patrick. He killed her. He's mad," after being shown a text message from him on her mobile phone.

Mr Lumumba was held in jail for two weeks before being released without charge after witnesses came forward to assure police he was in his bar on the night of the murder.