The parents of an American student held over the murder of Meredith Kercher defended their daughter on TV, saying she would never have committed such a crime.

Amanda Knox's mum and dad appeared on ABC's Good Morning America programme in their first detailed interview since the killing in Italy last November.

Meredith, 21, from Coulsdon, was found dead in the apartment she shared with Knox in the Italian town of Perugia where both were studying.

The Leeds University student had been sexually assaulted and died of a knife wound to the neck.

Knox was taken into custody in connection with the death along with her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, 23, and Rudy Hermann Guede.

William Knox said his daughter asked him: "Why am I here when I didn't do anything?"

Mum Edda Mellas told ABC: "She says she's tired a lot. Jail's not easy."

They said coverage of the case, portraying 20-year-old Knox as a sexually adventurous party girl, was unfair.

Her sister Deanna, who was also interviewed, called her "the kindest person I know. She will do anything to make people happy and she cares about everyone else before herself."