Grandmother of murdered Harry Potter star says 'Britain is spiralling out of control' as man is charged with murder

By Stephen Wright and Julie Moult
Last updated at 8:17 AM on 27th May 2008

The grandmother of Rob Knox, the teenage actor stabbed to death at the weekend, has condemned bad parents for contributing towards Britain's epidemic of stabbings.

Margaret Knox, 76, whose 18-year-old grandson had just finished work on the latest Harry Potter film, said parents must start taking responsibility for their children.

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Rob (right) with his mum Sally and brother Jamie shortly before he died

'Any idiot can have a baby but bringing them up well is tough,' she said.

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Robert's grandmother Margaret Knox is comforted at the scene by a relative

'It's hard work for parents. It's 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no rest. You have to put your life on hold.

'But the trouble is, people today want an easy life. There are babies being born to people-who are children themselves.

'These parents challenge the teachers, challenge the police. It's always someone else's responsibility.'

Her grandson was stabbed to death outside a wine bar in Sidcup, South-East London, as he tried to protect his brother Jamie, 17.

A 21-year-old man will appear in court today charged with murdering the teenage actor.

Unemployed Karl Bishop, of Beaver Lodge, Carlton Road, Sidcup, will appear at Bexley Magistrates Court charged with his murder.

Another five victims, all male and aged between 16 and 21, needed hospital treatment after being stabbed in the fight.

Bishop is also charged with five counts of wounding with intent relating to these attacks.

Rob Knox died from internal bleeding as a result of his wounds, a post-mortem examination found.

Mrs Knox said: 'Society in Britain today is spiralling out of control. Knife crime is not an innercity-problem, it's everywhere. It's a problem for all of us, all of society.

'We must start tackling this issue head on now to prevent anyone else suffering like my family and I.

'People need to be taught respect. It shouldn't be up to schools to instill respect. It must start with the parents at home before that.

'I know I can't bring Robbie back, he's gone forever. But the police and the Government must start getting tough with those carrying weapons. Action must start now.

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'We are just a normal family doing the best we can in life. We all work hard, are respectful and look after each other. We don't expect anything to be given to us.

'I've taught all my family to work hard and then they'll achieve something. That was the ethic ingrained in Robbie.'

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Heartbroken: Rob's mother Sally and brother Jamie

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Father Colin Knox is emotional at the scene of where son Robert was killed

Talking nonsense on knives

It is 'plumb wrong' to suggest that searching teenagers on the street could be a risky way to tackle knife crime, a minister has said.

Tony McNulty, the Police Minister, was responding to a warning given by the Children's Commissioner Sir Al Aynsley Green that the tactic, which is being used in London, could 'antagonise' youngsters.

Mr McNulty said: 'He is plumb wrong. People want policemen not only to be out on the street but helping the process. I think the Children's Commissioner is just talking nonsense I'm afraid.'

But Sir Al's spokesman said: 'Stop and search can alienate communities. That is what we are trying to say.'

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Comments (14)

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below?

If a person feels alienated by stop and search they should ask themselves how they would feel if it were the person closest to them who had been murdered. If they have nothing to hide it should not worry anyone! You would stop a child running into the road in front of a car EVEN if they were upset about it! The same thing should apply to all other wrongdoing - they should be stopped for their own good and foremost it is the parents responsibility when they bring a child into the world. Perhaps every pregnant lady and the father should have to attend parenting classes in the same way as anti-natal. Is it time to go back to not making it a way of getting a home and living on the state to have a baby. The only accommodation on offer would be a parent and child home.

- J Thomas, Hampshire, 27/5/2008 05:17

The reason this country is spiralling out of control is this weak, worse than useless government, useless judges and legal system. If we made a law that for carrying a knife you got an automatic ten year prison sentence and and if you use it an automatic 20 year sentence. With no appeal and ten or 20 to mean ten or 20 years in prison and do the same for guns, this sort of crime would die out overnight. Killing anyone should also be a life sentence meaning that you die in prison. Ignore Europe and civil liberties and all the stupid do-gooders, they are the cause of this situation in the first place.

- Mike, Thailand, 27/5/2008 05:14

Soft approach and soft sentencing do not help. The police should be given the power to ensure safety to get rid of knife on the street. I am sure all good kids (and all good citizen) will support tougher police action.

- KenT, Sydney Australia, 27/5/2008 04:35

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