‘An angelic girl’: Father of Nottingham attack victim delivers poignant eulogy at her funeral in London
The father of Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar has described his daughter as an “angelic girl” during a poignant eulogy at her funeral.
The medical student, alongside history student Barnaby Webber, were found stabbed to death on Ilkeston Road on 13 June. They were both 19 years old.
Ian Coates, a 65-year-old school caretaker, was found stabbed to death on Magdala Road that same day.
Barnaby Webber
Ian Coates. Pic: Huntingdon Academy
At least 1,000 guests attended Grace’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral in London, which is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales.
During the service, her father Dr Sanjoy Kumar said: “No father should be called upon to give a eulogy for their child.
“It’s not the natural order of things. It generally means something really unnatural has taken place and unfortunately for me, my beloved daughter Grace has been taken away from us.”
Dr Kumar said his daughter was dedicated to medicine and had volunteered to vaccinate people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Grace had also wanted to apply to the Royal Army Medical Corps to further her training – inspired by her father and uncle.
“I look back now and I am astonished by her resolve,” Dr Kumar said.
“Here we have a child who wanted to outdo her father and her uncle in public service.
“I have to ask, what kind of angelic child tries to outdo others in serving her country and her community, but that is exactly the sort of girl Grace was, she was truly amazing.”
Grace’s mother, Sinead O’Malley, told the congregation that her daughter had been “cruelly and inexplicably taken”.
Ms O’Malley said: “She came into our lives here in Westminster at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
“Her birth registered here, and it is now from Westminster that she will leave.
“Grace was such a perfect gift to us.”
At least 1,000 guests attended Grace’s funeral
A funeral for Barnaby Webber was held at Taunton Minster in Somerset earlier this month.
His parents attended today’s service, along with Sir Kenneth Olisa, the King’s representative in Greater London.
Valdo Calocane, a 31-year-old who used to study at the University of Nottingham, was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder in June.
He will enter pleas in September, and a provisional trial date has been set for 12 January.
A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.
“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield
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The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.
A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.
According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.
Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.
While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.
The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province
Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.
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According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.
It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.
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