The grisly story of Amanda Knox, the student who murdered her Coulsdon flatmate Meredith Kercher during an out-of-control sex game, is to be made into a film.

Heroes actress Hayden Panatierre is set to take on the role of Knox for a TV movie about the killing, which she carried out in 2007 with then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and Ivorian drifter Rudy Guede.

The trial of the American student gained international attention thanks to details which emerged about her colourful sex life, which earned her the nickname Foxy Knoxy.

Miss Kercher’s semi-naked body was found with her throat coat in the bedroom of the cottage she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy in November 2007.

Knox and Sollecito claimed they were not at the flat on the night of the murder, while Guede originally said an intruder had broken in to commit the crime while he was listening to music on the toilet.

Other stars previously linked with the role include Transformers actress Megan Fox, Twilight star Kristen Stewart and troubled tearaway Lindsay Lohan.

The new film is being made for the Lifetime network, and has been tentatively titled The Amanda Knox story.