The murder of a teenage actor is to take centre stage in a new ITVX documentary. Eighteen-year-old Rob Knox had only just finished filming his breakthrough role in a Harry Potter film in 2008 when he was stabbed to death.
The teenager had been cast as Slytherin Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince when he was murdered defending his younger brother. His death made headlines and continued to highlight the impact of knife crime.
Now, as these types of crimes remain a prolific issue in this country, Rob’s loved ones hope that they can help by speaking out in the documentary. The film includes interviews with Rob’s family, including his younger brother Jamie, as well as friends and co-stars including Tom Felton, Dani Harmer and Ray Winstone.
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Who was Rob Knox?
Rob Knox was an up-and-coming actor from London who had roles in The Bill, BBC comedy After You’re Gone and on the Channel 4 reality show Trust Me, I’m a Teenager. His breakthrough role was as Marcus Belby, a Slytherin student in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Knox appeared in the sixth instalment of the franchise posthumously. He had also signed on to reappear in the adaptation of the seventh book also.
What happened to Rob Knox?
Rob was fatally stabbed outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, south-east London in May 2008. He had intervened in a fight to protect his younger brother who was being threatened by a man armed with two knives.
Karl Bishop, who was 22 at the time, was found guilty of stabbing Rob five times. He was handed a life term with a minimum sentence of 20 years.
Bishop, who was also found guilty on four counts of wounding, was given three further concurrent life sentences for wounding Rob’s friends. Bishop had denied murder and five counts of wounding, but the court heard he was acting "in revenge” after he had come out worst in a fight with Rob and his friends the week before the killing.
When will (K)Nox: The Rob Knox Story air?
The documentary, which features interviews with Rob’s family as well as stars of stage and screen including Jim Broadbent and David Yates, will air exclusively on ITVX from February 23, 2023.
The documentary comes out at the same time Chroniclelive has launched our own campaign to help stamp out knife crime. Stop Knives taking Lives was launched this February following tragedies involving North East teens Tomasz Oleszak, 14, from Gateshead, Gordon Gault, 14, from Benwell in Newcastle, and now 15-year-old Holly Newton, from Haltwhistle, Northumberland. All of whom died in the short time since October.
The campaign has seen public figures, bereaved parents, footballers and sports people make the call for youngsters to stop carrying knives.
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