Nottingham, England – The family of stabbing victim Barnaby Webber in Nottingham hailed him as a hero for standing his ground before his tragic killing last summer. This occurred at the hands of engineering graduate Valdo Calocane. The 19-year-old was fatally knifed by Calocane, who also claimed the life of his companion, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, during a city-wide rampage. Calocane, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, also admitted to attempting to murder three pedestrians by ramming into them with a van.
During Calocane’s sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court, Barnaby’s brother Charlie honored his sibling’s bravery and heartbreakingly described the impact of his tragic death. Charlie expressed deep grief over the loss of his hero, emphasizing the immense void left by Barnaby’s absence.
Psychiatrists agreed that Calocane suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, impacting his control. The court faces a choice of imposing a life sentence with a hospital direction on Calocane or a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.
Dr. Nigel Blackwood, a professor of forensic psychiatry at King’s College London, testified that Calocane had shown a profound lack of awareness of his mental health condition and the impact of his violent actions. Despite being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Calocane was found to have known that his actions were morally and legally wrong at the time of the crimes.
Family members of Calocane’s victims provided heart-wrenching interviews, expressing the devastating effects of his actions on their lives. The grief and loss experienced by these families serve as a stark reminder of the profound impact of violent crimes on loved ones.
The sentencing hearing continues as family members and loved ones await justice for the lives tragically lost in this senseless act of violence.