Kercher suspect's parents speak out
- 00:01:43
- ITN
Kercher suspect's parents speak out
The parents of an American woman accused of murdering a British student in Italy have hit out at the media's portrayal of their daughter. Amanda Knox is one of three suspects being held over the murder of Leeds University student Meredith Kercher, 21, in the central Italian town of Perugia last November. The parents of Knox, nicknamed 'Foxy Knoxy' by sections of the media, spoke to ITV1's Tonight programme to defend their daughter ahead of her court appearance set down for Tuesday. Knox, 21, from Seattle, is due to appear at a pre-trial hearing alongside her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Ivory Coast citizen Hermann Guede, 21. The trio deny deny sexually assaulting and murdering the student from Coulsdon, Surrey. Miss Kercher was found semi-naked and with her throat slit at the home she shared with Knox and others in Perugia in November last year. Knox's mother Edda Mellas, said she is unhappy with the way her daughter has been portrayed. She explained: "And what has been done to her reputation, I mean it's just ... yeah we want her home first of all. "Everything I read or see on TV, I no longer believe because I know what they did to Amanda and what they have said in print, media - all kinds of media have said about her is totally false, so you wonder how much out there is really true." Mr Knox said he felt sympathy for the Kercher family. "We feel heartbreak for them. I mean it's one in which you know they get a telephone call that's the worse one you could ever have. We got a different one," he said. Miss Kercher's parents John and Arline are expected to be present at the hearing.
ITN | September 15, 2008
