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The ongoing public inquiry into the tragic stabbing deaths of Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar has revealed shocking discrepancies in how victims and their attacker were treated by authorities. The inquiry, which seeks to understand the circumstances surrounding the attacks, has highlighted a distressing point raised by the victims’ families: the deceased students were subjected to toxicology tests, while their killer, Valdo Calocane, was not. This revelation has prompted outrage from the families, who are calling for a thorough examination of the procedures followed in this case.
Victims’ Families Express Outrage
During the inquiry, which is being led by retired judge Deborah Taylor KC, Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace, voiced his deep displeasure over the testing of the victims for drugs and alcohol. He described it as “disgusting” that while Barnaby and Grace were tested post-mortem, Calocane, who had refused consent for toxicology samples during his custody, was not subjected to the same scrutiny.
On June 13, 2023, both students were walking home after a night out when they were fatally attacked by Calocane, who went on to kill Ian Coates and injure three others. The inquiry has since revealed that inappropriate access was made to the medical records of the victims after their deaths, further compounding the families’ grief and frustration.
The Role of Authorities Under Scrutiny
The testimony provided by Grace and Barnaby’s families at Mary Ward House in London has brought to light a series of procedural failures by the authorities involved. Sanjoy Kumar, a GP and former forensic medical examiner, recounted how he and Grace’s mother were pressured to sign a “human tissue form” for the release of Grace’s body. He expressed his dismay that the implications of signing such a document—specifically, that samples could be taken—were not made clear to them.
“They took samples from our children to test for drugs and alcohol,” he stated. “I found that really quite disgusting.” This sentiment reflects the broader frustration felt by the families, who believe the investigation has overlooked critical elements in a case that has already caused irreparable harm.
Inadequate Responses and Accountability
The inquiry also revealed that Nottinghamshire Police had apologised for their failure to obtain toxicology samples from Calocane. They claimed there was a “complete absence” of references to drug use in the investigation. In a poignant moment, Sanjoy questioned whether a hair sample could have been taken without Calocane’s consent, a step he deemed both basic and essential. “That left a colossal gap,” he insisted, highlighting the potential for critical evidence that could have emerged from such testing.
Concerns were also raised about the treatment of the victims’ families by the police. David and Emma Webber, Barnaby’s parents, expressed their anger over a WhatsApp group chat among officers that contained derogatory remarks about the victims. David described how learning about these messages added another layer of trauma for the families already grappling with their loss.
The Impact of Mental Health on Violence
Ahead of Calocane’s sentencing, which is scheduled for January 2024, it was disclosed that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. Questions surrounding the adequacy of his mental health care and whether relevant medical records were shared with the forensic psychiatrist assessing him have emerged as critical points of inquiry. Grace’s mother, Sinead, noted that the trust responsible for Calocane’s care was conducting an audit regarding inappropriate access to records, demonstrating a potential failure in safeguarding processes.
Sanjoy pointedly remarked that had Calocane not attacked his daughter, he would have likely targeted someone else. “If he’d missed our children, he would’ve hit someone else’s,” he said, emphasising the random nature of violence and the urgent need for accountability in mental health services.
Why it Matters
The Nottingham stabbing inquiry is not merely about seeking justice for three lives senselessly lost; it serves as a vital examination of how institutions respond to violence, mental health, and victim treatment. The revelations thus far expose significant gaps in procedures and policies that, if left unaddressed, risk perpetuating a cycle of failure that can endanger others in the future. As the inquiry continues, the families’ pursuit of accountability underscores the essential need for change in how authorities handle such grave incidents—highlighting the human cost behind bureaucratic failures and the enduring impact on those left behind.
