Families of Nottingham stabbing victims gather on first anniversary

The families of those killed in the Nottingham attack have laid flowers at the spot where the two students were murdered a year ago today.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were stabbed by Valdo Calocane as they walked home after a night out celebrating the end of exams.

The 32-year-old also knifed to death school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, as he made his way to work at Huntingdon Academy in the early hours.

A memorial service took place at the university, with the fathers of Grace and Barnaby recalling how happy they both were in the city.

There was also a two-minute silence and friends lined up to add single flowers to a bouquet near the stage.

Grace’s father was emotional as he recalled how his “hero” daughter “fought valiantly” during the attack and “chose friendship over fear” as she tried to help Barnaby.

“She was brave and she was beautiful”, he told the audience.

Sanjoy Kumar recalled how Grace’s life was focussed on three things: trying to become a doctor, playing hockey and socialising with friends.

He said time had “stood still” since the attack, but that the immense support shown to them had helped them carry on.

In a statement ahead of the service, the Webber, Coates and O’Malley-Kumar families said the killings were a “series of catastrophic missed opportunities” which led to “entirely preventable deaths”.

They said “no stone will be left unturned” in their battle for justice.

Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility in January.

The families tried to appeal the sentence but the Court of Appeal said it wasn’t “not unduly lenient” given Calocane’s paranoid schizophrenia.

They have also criticised Nottinghamshire Police and the Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust after it was revealed Calocane had previously been detained in hospital four times, with a warrant for his arrest also issued months before the killings.