Amanda Knox's memoir release put on hold in UK

Amanda Knox's account of the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher will not be published in the UK "at this time", publisher HarperCollins has revealed.

The memoir, titled "Waiting to be Heard", was due to be published in the UK on 9 May.

A spokesperson for HarperCollins said, "Due to our legal system, and relying upon advice from our counsel, HarperCollins UK will not publish a British edition of Waiting to Be Heard, by Amanda Knox, at this time".

The publisher fears the book could contravene Britain's tough libel laws and run into legal difficulties in light of the retrial ordered by Italy's most senior appeals court.

However, the memoir is still set to be published in the US, Canada and Australia on 30 April.

Knox, 25, returned to her native Seattle, Washington, in 2011 after spending four years behind bars in Perugia, Italy.

Her book deal, which was announced in February, was reportedly worth $4 million (£2.5 million).