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The mother of a student who was fatally stabbed in Nottingham has shared her experience of learning about her son’s death and is demanding an investigation into any potential oversights that may have contributed to the attacks.
Emma Webber, whose 19-year-old son Barnaby was among three killed in the knife rampage in June last year, was on a video call with work colleagues when she heard the news that a major incident had been declared in Nottingham, where her son was a university student.
In a matter of minutes, the mother discovered that her cherished son was one of the casualties. She used his unanswered cell phone to track him to the exact location where the incident occurred. She and her husband, Dave, quickly traveled to Nottingham, where she received a call from the authorities confirming her worst suspicions.
“I stepped out of the vehicle, dropped to my knees on the gravel, and let out a scream,” Ms Webber recalled.
“Afterwards, there was a stillness and coldness that enveloped me. I felt almost numb, unable to even breathe.”
Three individuals, including two students named Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, were fatally stabbed in Nottingham. The third victim was Ian Coates, who worked as a caretaker at the school.
Valdo Calocane committed manslaughter by stabbing to death Barnaby, Grace O’Malley-Kumar (19), and Ian Coates (65) with a dagger in Nottingham on June 13, 2019. Calocane, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was given an indefinite hospital order after admitting to the crime.
The relatives of the three individuals he murdered responded with anger to the ruling, accusing the prosecutors of accepting a charge of manslaughter instead of pursuing a conviction for murder.
After the hearing, Ms Webber of Somerset stated that inquiries should be made, responses should be provided, and if needed, lessons should be learned.
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I felt a sudden chill as my body tensed up. We continued to call and call, yet there was still no response.
The woman has recently stated that her family completely backs the request for a public investigation. This comes after the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service and current Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, described the deaths as “completely terrible” and showed his support for an inquiry.
Ms. Webber blamed the police for being responsible for the knife attack, stating that they had not taken action in time to prevent it. It was revealed that they had not arrested Calocane, who had previously attacked two warehouse workers, in the weeks leading up to the incident. This was despite the fact that he was already wanted for allegedly assaulting a police officer in September 2021.
He had been apprehended by mental health facilities four times and had consistently refused to take medication for his psychosis, allowing him to wander the streets without treatment or supervision.
The attorney general is reviewing the sentencing of Calocane, following a ruling by Mr Justice Turned that he should be placed in a secure hospital instead of serving time in prison. This “hybrid order” would have allowed for Calocane to be sent to prison if his mental health improved.
He can potentially request release every three years under the current sentence, but the court was informed that his mental health issue is deemed incurable.
She stated to The Daily Mail that although we cannot alter the past, we can ensure that Barney’s legacy continues.
A screenshot released by Nottinghamshire Police depicts Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber walking on Ilkeston Road, moments before being assaulted by Valdo Calocane.
For the sake of Barney, we must make an effort to address the issues in our mental health care, policing, and judicial system. While it won’t bring Barney back, the sadness and grief will persist, but at least he will receive justice.
Ms. Webber described her thought process upon hearing the news as follows: “The report stated that a man and a woman were killed. However, I did not immediately think of my 19-year-old son as a man. To me, he will always be my boy.”
“I apologized to my coworkers, explaining that I was a bit preoccupied. There was something happening in Nottingham and I wanted to ensure that Barney was okay.”
Ms Webber discussed her experience of hitting rock bottom after the funerals.
Prior to sending a text to her son’s friends, she attempted to call his phone and they verified that he was not present in his room.
“Right around that time, news reports revealed that the incident had occurred on Ilkeston Road,” Ms Webber added. “Dave mentioned, ‘Barney’s phone was last tracked on Ilkeston Road.'”
I suddenly felt a chill throughout my body.
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Due to his paranoid schizophrenia, Calocane did not receive a prison sentence.
The couple noticed that his phone had been relocated and was now at the police station. The officers contacted them to share the devastating update.
The parents had to inform their 16-year-old son, Charlie, about the news. According to the mother, it was heartbreaking to see his reaction as he struggled to process and accept it.
“The sorrow was all-consuming, preventing me from looking past the loss of Barney.”
Contributions can be sent to the Barnaby Webber Foundation through the following link: gofundme.com/f/in-everlasting-memory-of-barnaby-webber
Source: independent.co.uk
