Kelsey Grammer opens up about his sister's brutal murder

Kelsey Grammer said he still feels the personal heartbreak following the murder of his sister. Photo / Getty Images

Kelsey Grammer, star of Cheers and Frasier, today reveals the personal heartbreak he still feels following the brutal murder of his sister Karen in 1975.

In a moving interview with BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Grammer says that he honours his sister's memory by ensuring her killer remains behind bars, reports the Daily Mail.

Grammer, 62, said: "I have learnt to forgive. I have even told the guy I forgive him, although I don't advocate his freedom. I don't think that is reasonable."

The star, who has twice helped to block attempts by killer Freddie Glenn to get parole, said it was important to speak up for the rights of victims' families.

He said: "In a letter to the parole board, I said the punishment shouldn't be worse for the family than it is for the guy that killed the person and that's what this feels like sometimes."

Grammer, who was 20 at the time, said the murder had almost pushed him over the edge and his belief in God was shattered, but he has since recovered his faith.

Glenn was convicted in 1976 of killing Karen Grammer, 18, and two other victims chosen at random the year before.

After repeatedly raping Karen, Glenn stabbed her in the throat, neck and hand before leaving her to die.

He received the death penalty but it was overturned on appeal.