Tonight:
5°c
‘I bent to kiss his forehead, he was cold’
Evening Standard 4 Mar 2009The parents of Robert Knox both wrote statements telling the court how their lives have been devastated.
Colin Knox, who has separated from wife Sally, said that living without his son was a "daily nightmare".
Mrs Knox said she would continue to campaign against knife crime to ensure his death will "make a difference".
These are extracts from their statements: Mr Knox said: "On the 24th of May 2008 the lives of many people changed beyond belief. It was on that day my son, Robert Knox, was taken from this earth.
"His life was stolen, taken without permission. He was taken in the most cruel way possible. His life, love and kindness will never be felt again. His family saw him grow throughout his life, from a little baby boy, into an adult.
"Robert had just been fortunate and successful in his acting career. Robert loved to act and when he got the part of Marcus Belby in Harry Potter's recent film The Half Blood Prince, he was so excited, happy and proud.
"Rob made such an impression that they signed his contract for the next film in the series. He had potentially a great career in front of him, but now we will never see him go on to make his mark in the film industry.
"As for me, living day to day is quite hard. My children were, and still are, the meaning of my life. Not a day goes by where I don't cry for my son. I talk to Rob every day. I know he is beside me right now.
"I never had the chance to say goodbye to my son. What I had to do to say goodbye to Rob was to go to the Chapel of Rest, at Farnborough Hospital. I had to stand over his dead body that was laid out. I have always known Rob to have energy and character, but now he was devoid of any sign of life. I was a total wreck... August 21st was his birthday. I spent that birthday standing over his grave. As for Christmas morning, I also spent that day standing over his grave. Not something any parent should be doing."
Mrs Knox said in her statement: "I will never forget the impact of that phone call from Jamie, telling me that Robert had been stabbed, feeling total panic and disbelief. I just knew I had to see my boys' as soon as possible. When I saw Jamie in total desperation, covered in blood. I felt sick and frightened. I wanted to be with Jamie and comfort him but I needed to get to Rob. I was desperate to get to Rob but I couldn't.
"All I could see was him lying on the ground outside Somerfield with everyone around him. I hoped and prayed he was okay, but not being able to see him. I realised just how serious it must be...
"The wait in the hospital was so long, part of me knew but didn't want to believe Robert was dead, before we were told officially.
"I just knew, but I couldn't explain how or why I knew. I will never forget the worse moment in my life when a police officer and a doctor walked into the family room and told us that Robert had died ...
"To make sense of Roberts's life and in his memory, I want his life to have made a difference, and I will continue with supporting campaigns and raising public awareness against street violence and knife crime. I really wish that no other family have to suffer and endure the loss of a loved one, at the hands of someone with a knife ...As a mother and parent I can never forgive the person responsible for taking my son's Roberts life."
