THE parents of murdered Harry Potter actor Rob Knox say they plan to open a centre in their son’s name.

The Rob Knox Centre would be “something to keep young kids off the street” says his mother Sally, and provide theatre apprenticeships in everything from acting to electrical work.

His parents have set up the Rob Knox Memorial Fund which they hope will pay for the centre, and plan a star-studded fundraising event in July, just before the release of the latest Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in which 18-year-old Rob appeared.

Speaking to News Shopper after their son’s killer Karl Bishop, aged 22, of Carlton Road, Sidcup, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for his murder, Rob’s father Colin, 56, said: “When they announced the verdicts, I couldn’t hear for about 30 seconds, the pressure was so intense.”

Bishop chose to stay in his cell rather than hear the family’s impact statement read out to the court.

Mr Knox, a magazine publisher from Greenhithe, said: “I thought it was disgusting.

“That guy didn’t show any remorse whatsoever during the trial.

“It was just like another day for him.

“He couldn’t even face the parents of the man he killed.”

Mr Knox is working with Charlton Athletic FC on its Street Violence Ruins Lives campaign, which highlights the dangers of knife crime.

Rob, of Maidstone Road, Sidcup, lived with his mother Sally, 51, and younger brother Jamie, who was with his brother at the Metro Bar in Station Road, Sidcup, on May 23, the night Rob was killed.

Mrs Knox described Bishop’s attitude in court as “absolutely appalling.”

She said: “I tried not to take any notice of him. I didn’t look at him at all until he came up to give his evidence.

"When he looked at me he was just staring completely blankly.

"I’d like them to say he is never going to come out.

“I just hope, when he appears in 20 years time, his past history will count and he doesn’t get granted any early release.

“I don’t think he is capable of any remorse at all.”

Mrs Knox said worse was to come after the trial, when it was reported friends of Bishop were offering pictures of her son’s post-mortem examination for sale.

She said: “You have to go through all of this and then you find out something like that.

“It just shows these people have no thought for family.”

But the couple are determined something good must come from their son’s death.

The July event will allow other parents who have lost their children to say a few words.

Mrs Knox said: "I’m very lucky because I’m able to speak out.

"A lot of other people have lost their children who might actually want to say something about them.

“I cannot stop now because I know for a fact that, if it happened to someone else, Rob would have fought for the rest of his life because that’s just the way he was.”

Following her son’s murder Mrs Knox said she experienced a long period of numbness.

She said: "Rob is dead and my life will never be the same.

“There was a period when I could not even remember Rob.

“Once the funeral had taken place I could start to remember him.

“Not a day goes by when you don’t think about him.”

She said: “Then it was the horrible anticipation from Christmas up until the trial.”

The Knoxes attended every day of the trial at the Old Bailey, which Mrs Knox said was emotionally and physcially draining for them.

Several of her son's friends, including those who had also been wounded by Bishop, gave evidence.

She said: “From my point of view it was hard listening to the prosecution and then to listen to the defence tearing everybody apart.

"I was really feeling for the boys.”

Mrs Knox said Rob’s friend Callum Turner, who comforted Rob as he lay dying that night, had been particularly supportive of the family over the past year.

She said: “Callum would always pop in to make sure I was OK.

"I’m so glad Callum was there with Rob that night.”

Bishop had claimed at his trial he was acting in self-defence when he stabbed Rob five times and wounded four of his friends.

But Mr Knox said: “All I could picture Rob doing was trying to pin this guy to the floor for the police to arrive.

"That was the character of Rob.”

After the jury announced its verdict, it emerged that police had chances to arrest Bishop before the murder, following allegations of a knifepoint robbery and burglary.

But the parents refuse to blame police.

Mr Knox said: “You can’t blame everyone.

"You can only blame one person, Karl Bishop.

“Nothing can bring Rob back now.”

Mrs Knox said: “At first I thought maybe Bishop shouldn’t have been on the streets.

"But it’s just another what if. There are so many what ifs when someone dies.

“I think everyone knows by now what a lovely boy Rob was.

“He wasn’t a saint, he was a normal teenager.

“But he did have a lovely side to him and he also had a big future ahead of him which has obviously gone now.”

As well as receiving a life sentences and ordered to serve at least 20 years before being considered for parole, Bishop was also convicted of wounding four of Rob's friends and received concurrent sentences of between two and five years.

Judge David Bean told Bishop, who already had previous convictions involving the use of knives: “Your lack of regret, let alone remorse, was truly chilling.”

Rob's mother says Jamie, who turned 18 during the trial, now plans to travel the world, something she says Rob had wanted to do.

The family have planned a young people’s concert in memory of Rob, on May 2 at St John’s Church in Church Road, Sidcup, where his funeral was held.

Donations to the Rob Knox Memorial Fund can be made at Barclays Bank, Sidcup, account number 13702421 and sort code 20 06 72.