A CONTROVERSIAL NEW film has caused fury among the family of murdered British student Meredith Kercher, who was killed in Italy in 2007.

Kercher’s father has described the TV movie that deals with his daughter’s death and the ensuing murder trial as “absolutely horrific” – as the moments leading up to her murder are graphically recreated.

The film, named The Amanda Knox Story, explores the events surrounding the murder of 21-year-old Kercher and the conviction of her housemate, American student Amanda Knox – played by Hayden Panettiere. The subject is controversial enough in itself as Knox, who has always maintained her innocence, is still engaged in a legal challenge to her sentencing and her lawyers fear the film may prejudice the appeal.

However, it is the focus on Kercher that has upset her family. The Dail Mail quotes John Kercher as saying:

“It’s so awful what these film people have done. Your imagination runs riot as it is about what happened but to actually see it like this is very different and very distressing.”

He also said that the makers of the film may be contacted by the convicted peoples’ lawyers.

Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Hermann Guede have all been convicted in connection with Kercher’s death.