America’s favorite “Heroes” cheerleader and dolphin hugger, actress Hayden Panettiere has just been cast in a Lifetime TV movie about convicted murderer and Seattle native Amanda Knox. Knox was convicted in an Italian court for the 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy where the two were students at the local university. The salacious nature of the case and the obvious appeal of an attractive co-ed involved in a murder in an exotic location has drawn worldwide attention from both public and press. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison and the case is on appeal.
Lifetime announced today the casting of Panettiere in the film which is expected to air in 2011. Several “name” actresses were rumoured to be pursuing the role, including Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox and more than one project has been in development. The Lifetime project, unimaginatively titled, “The Amanda Knox Story” will be directed by Robert Dornhelm. Expect a post by Knox chronicler, Charles Mudede, on The Stranger’s SLOG in the next 45 seconds…he won’t let this slip his notice.
-Michael Strangeways
The English translation of the Massei report can be downloaded from here:
http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/viewtopic.php?p=53735