The parents of Meredith Kercher have demanded offensive screen shots showing a film recreation of their daughter’s murder are withdrawn from the internet.

The disturbing images form part of a trailer promoting an American TV film about the Coulsdon student’s killing in Italy.

It is entitled: Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy.

Her father John told a national newspaper his family are very distressed by the film.

He said: “The scenes are absolutely horrific. It’s awful what these film people have done.

“I’m surprised they have gone so far. I was told the original brief of the film was to take it up to the point of the killing but not show actually show the killing.

“I have asked and would hope the pictures are withdrawn from the internet.

“Not only have they upset me and my family but they are also in danger of being sued by the convicted people’s lawyers.”

Her mother Arline said: “I don’t understand how a film can be made when there is an appeal to be heard.

“It also brings this all up again for us which is always very hard.

“I said a few months ago that I didn’t understand why the film was called Amanda Knox when my daughter was the victim.”

Footage from the trailer of the TV movie shows the actress playing Meredith screaming as she is held down by Knox, Sollecito and Guede.

Knox and her then boyfriend, Rafaelle Sollecito, were found guilty in December 2009 of killing of 21-year-old Meredith Kercher, who was sharing a house with the American student while on a year abroad in Perugia, Italy.

Sollecito was jailed for 25 years for his part in the killing, while small-time drug dealer Rudy Guede was imprisoned for 30 years during an earlier hearing.

Knox, 23, nicknamed Foxy Knoxy is in the process of appealing her conviction, which saw her jailed for 26 years.

She is being played by Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere. The 21-year-old said the film was based on fact and shouldn’t upset anyone.

She said: “It is one of the roles you dream of doing as an actor.

"The script's is well done and I don't think any side is going to have a problem with the way it is written and the way the story is pieced together.”

The film is set to premier on Lifetime, a channel in America, on February 21 and questions whether Knox was the murderer or a victim of a miscarriage of justice.