Lifetime Television is taking a bold step by airing their made-for-TV movie 'Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial in Italy' tonight at 9PM ET, given the ongoing controversy over the case.

Most of the country is aware of Knox, due to the almost-constant news reports covering this international headline-grabbing story: Knox, an American exchange student, was accused by Italian authorities of brutally stabbing and killing her British roommate Meredith Kercher on November 2, 2007 in their flat in Perugia, Italy. After a well-publicized and controversial trial, Knox was convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison; her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. An acquaintance, Rudy Guede, was sentenced to 30 years, which was reduced to 16 in 2009.

Knox's family has apparently made an effort to block the film, saying it creates an "evil opinion" of their daughter while lawyers appeal her conviction.

Hayden Panettiere, best known for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet on 'Heroes,' plays Knox in the movie. There's a lot riding on her shoulders playing a living person who is currently spending her days and nights in a small jail cell awaiting word on her appeal. We spoke to Panettiere to find out if she had reservations about making this movie, if she had an opinion of Knox's guilt or innocence and if she made an attempt to meet Knox in person.

'Heroes' star Hayden Panettiere's new Lifetime movie, 'Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy,' is scheduled to premiere Feb. 21. But if Knox's lawyers have anything to say about it, the movie won't air at all.

According to Deadline, Knox's legal team has formally petitioned Lifetime to pull the movie from its schedule and remove a trailer on its website while Knox's case is still under appeal. Knox's lawyers say that if Lifetime doesn't comply by Feb. 10, they will persue legal action against the network.