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These statements are in no way contradictory.
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I totally agree, Aiwendil. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
One key aspect of Glorfindel's prophecy, as has been mentioned on this thread previously, is that the Witch King was aware of it. He knew that it had been foretold that he would not die at the hands of a man, and so had no fear of being vanquished when facing a man in combat (like Macbeth, but that's another thread [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ). Of course, when he becomes aware that he is in fact facing a woman, he realises that he is vulnerable - the prophecy does not cover this situation. And, quite possibly, that realisation in itself, by denting his confidence and perhaps inducing a slight moment of hesitation, made the job of killing him easier for Eowyn and Merry.
On the question of who was responsible for delivering the "killer blow" to him, it seems to me that this must have been Eowyn. The whole impression conveyed by this scene is that Eowyn
kills the Witch King, having been given the opportunity to do so by Merry. I do not get the sense that Merry's stroke alone would have destroyed him.
I can see the logic in the argument that, since Merry's blade broke the spell binding his rotten flesh to his will, he would have fallen apart in any event as a result of the wound inflicted by Merry, and Eowyn's stroke only hastened his demise. But, it is quite possible that the effect of Merry's blade in breaking the spell was only temporary, and that it would have re-asserted itself over his undead body in sufficient time to ensure his continued existence, had Eowyn not delivered the critical blow just at that moment.
And does the prophecy have any relevance here? It is Eowyn who reveals her true nature when the Witch King refers arrogantly to the prophecy, and it is the realisation of her womanhood that causes him to falter. So, the "fulfillment" prophecy is linked in the text solely to Eowyn being a woman. There is, as far as I can recall, no reference in this regard to Merry's Hobbit nature.
Indeed, it might be argued that the very nature of the prophecy precluded Merry from being responsible for the Witch King's destruction. Merry was a Hobbit and Hobbits are, as I understand it, a sub-division of the race of Man. So, strictly speaking, Merry was a man and therefore fell within the category of beings that Glorfindel had foretold would not be responsible for the Witch King's demise.
That last point is probably stretching it a bit, but nevertheless it seems to me that the prophecy was "fulfilled" because Eowyn, a woman, delivered the final blow, rather than because a woman and a Hobbit destroyed him together.
Eowyn, therefore, was responsible for destroying him. Merry provided her with the opportunity to do so.