Warning: This post contains details that readers may find distressing
The bereaved families of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who were killed in the Nottingham attacks on 13 June 2023, are giving evidence to a public inquiry on Wednesday. Ian Coates, 65, was also killed in the spate of attacks by Valdo Calocane
Barnaby's father David Webber said the family panicked after tracking their son's phone using an app to a police station
A number of senior police figures have said detaining Calocane - who had a warrant out for his arrest for nine months before his killings - would not have made a difference, a view David branded "offensive"
The inquiry has also heard Barnaby's younger brother Charlie learned of his death on a school trip and was banging on a minibus screaming "no, no, it can't be true"
Barnaby's mother Emma Webber describes the "unfolding horror" during a meeting with families, which heard Calocane would be allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility
Emma added messages sent by police officers in a WhatsApp group discussing the victims being "properly butchered" were "disgusting and grotesque"
Sinead has said it was "so important" to put things in writing when communicating with the families.
She told the inquiry they were being given information containing legal terminology over the phone.
"Information has to be delivered the right way and by the right person," she added.
Sanjoy said, in the medical world, if something did not get noted down, it did not happen.
Sanjoy and Sinead told the inquiry they were asked to sign forms to allow Grace's body to be released following the attacks.
Sanjoy said it was a "human tissue form" - which he had not seen before as a GP and a forensic medical examiner with the Metropolitan Police.
He said they were told Grace's body could not be released if they did not sign the forms.
"You had to sign them, but what was not highlighted was that this is a point in time where you are also signing to say samples could be taken," he added.
"That was absolutely not pointed out.
"They took samples from our children to test for drugs and alcohol. I was really struck by that being really quite disgusting."
Sanjoy pointed out Valdo Calocane was not tested for drugs and alcohol - an omission police have apologised for during the inquiry proceedings.
Sinead and Sanjoy's family liaison officer (FLO) was "removed" by Nottinghamshire Police after Calocane's sentencing in January 2024, the inquiry has heard.
Sanjoy described her as "perhaps the most helpful" Nottinghamshire Police officer the family had met.
Sinead added all the families affected had different experiences but, for her family, their FLO was "incredibly supportive".
Sanjoy said: "Fiona had brought us an enormous amount of comfort at a time of great sadness and removing her felt vindictive to me."
The inquiry heard the force removed the FLO because of a referral made to the policing watchdog following the families' complaints.
Sanjoy has told the inquiry his starting position for any police force is one of "trust".
He said he had worked with Metropolitan Police officers and had "nothing but praise" for those he had encountered in a professional capacity.
The inquiry heard the family received a press release on 16 June 2023 stating Valdo Calocane had been charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of murder.
Sanjoy said: "You think you can get on with your grief as authorities were taking care of this matter."
Sanjoy told the inquiry the family received no "specific invitation" for a vigil, organised by Nottingham City Council, at the Council House in Old Market Square.
He said it was something the families were "completely unprepared for".
He added: "I thought this was going to be a meeting room where you get to meet the local councillors.
"I wasn't told that this was going to be an enormous event."
Sinead said they were not expecting to make an address at the event, which she described as "chaotic".
"Reflecting back, it just seemed to me that this was an opportunity for the councillors and the faith leaders to say their 15 minutes of whatever they had to say, rather than actually talk about the event itself or address it in any way, shape or form," Sanjoy said.
On Tuesday, the sons of another victim - Ian Coates - told the inquiry they only found out about the event through a Sky News journalist.
Image source, PA MediaSinead and Sanjoy said they were not told Valdo Calocane had been a student at the University of Nottingham.
The inquiry previously heard from Claire Thompson, former associate director of student wellbeing, who was involved in Calocane's care when he was a student.
Despite that, she became a close point of contact for Sanjoy and Sinead.
"Claire Thompson didn't tell us that he was a graduate of the college or had any interaction with him whatsoever," Sanjoy said.
"We weren't told that."
Sanjoy and Sinead have said Barnaby and Grace's friends received "no support" after the attacks.
Sinead said the university "should have had professional trauma health professionals reaching out actively" to help them navigate "this unprecedented horrific event".
Sanjoy said the students were not given extenuating circumstances when it came to their upcoming exams and instead had to apply for them.
Sinead has told the hearing the family were "flabbergasted" to see the number of students and media present at the vigil for the victims.
She said: "It was absolutely heartbreaking - all of Grace's friends were there in hockey outfits.
"They were all absolutely hysterical."
Sanjoy (pictured left at the vigil) added there was a "hillside of students" and said he was "shocked by how many people had been affected by the attacks".
Image source, Jacob King/PA WireSanjoy has recalled taking a call from his wife telling him he needed to come home - something he said caused a "little bit of panic deep within" as Grace had not responded to his phone calls.
Sinead told the inquiry she received a phone call from their daughter's friend informing her that Barnaby, who had been walking with Grace, had died.
"We were in a blind state of panic," she said.
At midday, the family said they were called by police, who told them they were sending officers down to them - to which Sanjoy said: "No, you're not, we're driving up."
He added: "We just didn't want to believe the news."
Sinead said she called a helpline that was shown on the TV, and they took her details.
She said she also called the Queen's Medical Centre hospital in Nottingham but was told Grace had not been admitted.
"Because so much time had lapsed, I thought something strange was going on but we weren't sure," Sinead said.
After picking up Grace's brother James from school at about 11:00 BST, she said she received a call from Grace's friends saying they had not seen her and that she was not in her accommodation.
Sanjoy said after calling Grace with no answer, he began to panic.
On the morning of the attacks, Sinead said she had looked at the news on her phone and saw a headline about attacks in Nottingham and a man and woman being found dead.
She said she put a message in her family WhatsApp group because the news story mentioned Ilkeston Road, which she knew of.
Grace's younger brother James had an exam that morning, the inquiry heard.
Sinead said: "As the morning progressed, I got increasingly worried.
"We hadn't heard from Grace.
"There was no further information coming through, but I knew she had a driver's licence on her person.
"I knew she carried her University of Nottingham lanyard with her key to accommodation on her at all times, so I was certain that if Grace has been involved, we would have been notified."
Dr Sinead O'Malley Kumar and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's mother and father, are now giving evidence.
Grace - who played for England Hockey's under-16s and under-18s - was studying medicine at the University of Nottingham at the time of her death.
This morning, we have heard evidence from the parents of 19-year-old student Barnaby Webber, Emma Webber and David Webber:
Image source, The Nottingham InquiryOn the day of the attacks, Valdo Calocane first fatally attacked Barnaby before turning on Grace.
The pair were walking home to their student accommodation after an end-of-term night out when they were fatally stabbed in the early hours of 13 June 2023.
In court, prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said Grace had shown "incredible bravery" and tried to protect her friend, fighting and pushing Calocane, then 32, into the road.
But the killer then turned his attention to her and was "as uncompromisingly brutal in his assault", he said.
Image source, SuppliedIn a pen portrait shown earlier in the inquiry, Grace's father Dr Sanjoy Kumar said: "Grace had a very full life.
"She was the best of me and she was the best of my wife.
"Grace would want to be remembered for her kindness and for her absolute and sheer loyalty - she was beautiful and brave and she would do anything for her friends and I think she proved that right until the very end."
Emma and David Webber's evidence is now complete.
Dr Sinead O'Malley-Kumar and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's parents, will give their evidence after a break.
Emma continues her evidence to the Nottingham Inquiry, adding the investigation into the Nottingham attacks of 13 June 2023 was "second-rate", and that the prosecution was "weak".
"Such was the need to rush this through. Was it to prevent the fallout from countless missed opportunities being made public, and shaming our criminal justice system and healthcare systems?
"Those data breaches have caused us untold pain, and unimaginable grief and horror.
"I have addressed what we want done with regards to those from His Majesty's courts, prison, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and Nottinghamshire Police. It does not end here," she added.
Image source, Jonathan Brady/PA WireEmma added the private and independent investigations that had taken place until now were "not fit for purpose".
"Little more than marking of homework, tick-box exercises and damage limitation dressed up as justice," she said.
Emma added her son was killed by a "violent, pernicious and dangerous" man, who was allowed to "roam the street and unleash his planned attack with a rucksack full of weapons".
She said Valdo Calocane - who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 - used those weapons in a way that was described to her as "one of the most brutal attacks many of the long-serving police officers had ever seen".
"It is the stuff of nightmares and the true face of evil," she said.
"Clearly a sick individual, that is never disputed. However, it is one that knew what he was doing, he knew it was wrong and he did it anyway.
"A master manipulator and a ticking time bomb, a tragedy waiting to happen."
Emma Webber has called for investigations that had not been fully completed to be reopened, adding they must be carried out with "full candour and rigour".
"A message to those who have taken part in any of these unlawful acts, you have my word that you will be accountable because we have nothing to hide, defend or embellish," she said.
She added she left her son in a city that was "not safe to have him" and that was a "burden".
"I don't want Barney to be forgotten, but I don't want his name to be defined along that of a monster.
"I want those who knew him and loved him to always remember the impact he had and the love of life that he brought, and the difference he made in his all too short of a time with us.
"Barney, I love you and I miss you always," she said.
During the first week of the public inquiry, we heard an emotional tribute to Barnaby - known as Barney - from his mum Emma Webber.
She said: "I want people to remember Barney for being a really genuine, authentic, good person who was taken.
"But he made an impact on the time he was here and on the people he was with."
His brother Charlie described him as a "kind, gentle, caring - as he was".
Barnaby was from Taunton in Somerset, and was in his first year of studying at the University of Nottingham.
Image source, SuppliedIn a statement to the inquiry, Emma said: "We sit here today not because we want to, but because we have to."
She added the families were often told how "strong and brave" they were, but said the public did not see "the shell of a devastated mother" behind closed doors.
However, Emma said there was "still strength in me and there is still determination".
She added: "I will never stop this fight until this gross wrong has been righted, whatever it takes and for however long it takes."
