Unknown Cambridge graduate is picked to play Meredith Kercher in controversial film about her murder

By Nick Pisa
Last updated at 3:01 PM on 5th December 2010

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An unknown Cambridge University graduate is playing the part of murdered student Meredith Kercher in a TV film because of her uncanny similarity to the victim.
Amanda Fernando Stevens, 26, was picked for the role by director Robert Dornhelm  when he saw her at a casting and spotted the resemblance with tragic Meredith, 21, who was found semi naked and with her throat slashed.
Miss Stevens turned to acting after a brief stint teaching following her graduation from university with a natural sciences degree and the Amanda Knox Story will be her first major role.

Likeness: Amanda Fernando Stevens and murder victim Meredith Kercher

The film, which stars Hayden Panettiere as Knox, also has another British influence with Paolo Romio, who despite the name is actually English but of Italian origin playing co-accused Raffaele Sollecito.
The film has angered both the Knox and Kercher families and defence lawyers have also hit out at the production which is being made by American firm Lifetime and which will be broadcast in the U.S. in March.
Filming in Italy was actually hit with budget issues and also permission to film in Perugia - where the murder took place in November 2007 - was refused by the city council.

Portrayal: Killer Amanda Knox, left,  will be played by Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere

Instead the controversial  film - which was completed ten days ago after a month of filming -  used a cottage on the outskirts of Rome as the murder scene and streets in the Italian capital doubled up as Perugia.
Dornhelm said:'Meredith's story is tragic for all those involved, for the youngsters but also for their parents.
'What counts above all is that two mothers have lost their daughters, one in death and the other in jail.'
''What interests me more is the psychology and personality of the protagonists rather than the blood of the crime and the search for those responsible.
''The world is not black and white. anyone can find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
'It's not surprising that in this day and age someone's dark side can emerge and they are capable of doing something terrible.'

Meredith's killers: Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito

Knox was sentenced to 26 years and Sollecito to 25 years for the murder and sexual assault of Meredith a year ago while Ivory Coast drifter Rudy Guede was given 30 years at a fast track trial in October 2008.
Last December this was reduced to 16 years on appeal and in ten days time he will have his third and final appeal at the Supreme Court in Rome.
Knox and Sollecito are basing their appeal on flawed DNA techniques presented in court during their original trial.
British actor Colin Firth is also making a film on the murder which is being directed by the acclaimed Michael Winterbottom.
Meanwhile, Knox has expressed her fears of remaining in jail for the rest of her life in letters to Italian MP Rocco Girlanda who has written a book on their correspondence


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335843/Amanda-Knox-film-Unknown-Cambridge-graduate-play-Meredith-Kercher.html#ixzz17Gq7SlXK