On the second anniversary of a devastating stabbing attack that shook Nottingham, the mother of one victim has accused the NHS of concealing the truth about the care provided to the attacker prior to the tragedy. Valdo Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, fatally stabbed three people—including former Taunton School student Barnaby Webber and his friend Grace O’Malley Kumar—as well as 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates in June 2023.
A February report revealed that Calocane was not administered long-acting antipsychotic medication because he disliked needles. It also highlighted that other patients from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had committed serious acts of violence. Despite multiple hospital admissions and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act between 2020 and 2022, Calocane was discharged months before the attacks, with NHS services losing track of him.
Families of the victims met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday to demand the names of staff responsible for Calocane’s treatment be made public. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Emma Webber emphasized the urgent need for truth and transparency. “We keep encountering cover-ups and mistruths,” she said. “We will not stop until we get answers.”
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Emma Webber dismissed suggestions that their pursuit of accountability is a “witch hunt,” stressing that their concern is about public safety as well as grieving. She questioned why no disciplinary action has been confirmed against NHS staff involved in Calocane’s care.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, echoed this call for full transparency and accountability, stating that without it, true change cannot occur. “Every family going through such tragedies deserves answers, not just timelines,” he explained.
Calocane was sentenced in January 2024 to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. Three official reports, including one by the Care Quality Commission, outlined failings in his care but did not name individual practitioners.
On June 13, families gathered in Nottingham for a memorial walk, visiting the sites of the attacks to honor their loved ones. Emma Webber described returning to the city as a “visceral” experience, feeling the events “almost like it was yesterday,” but underscored their desire to “walk in peace and love.”
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive, Ifti Majid, stated the trust is fully cooperating with the ongoing Nottingham Inquiry but declined further comment. The Department of Health and Social Care has also been contacted for a statement.