Inquest into deaths of Nottingham attack victims to open
Two students and a school caretaker died in the city in June
Inquests into the deaths of two university students and a school caretaker who were killed in an attack in Nottingham are to open today (07/07).
Valdo Calocane, 31, is charged with the murders of Grace O'Malley Kumar, Barnaby Webber, both 19 and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65 - who died in the early hours of the 13th June.
The inquests will be opened by Mairin Casey, a senior coroner for Nottinghamshire at 2pm on Friday 7th July 2023.
In the days after the attacks, thousands of people attended vigils in the city in memory of the victims, where their families paid emotional tributes to them.
The family of Mr Webber, a history student from Taunton in Somerset, described their "complete devastation" at the "senseless murder of our son", saying he was a "beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to".
Ms O'Malley-Kumar's family described her as a "truly wonderful and beautiful young lady" who would be "so dearly missed".
Two of Mr Coates' sons said his death had "rocked everyone's world", adding: "Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn't."
Calocane, of no fixed abode, is expected to enter pleas in September, with a provisional trial date set for January 12 2024.
At his last appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on June 20, he was remanded into custody to appear again for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 25.