Nottingham attacks: Communities come together one year on

Barnaby Webber, who was a 19-year-old student from Somerset, died in the incident - along with Grace O'Malley Kumar and caretaker Ian Coates

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 13th Jun 2024

Today - June 13 - marks exactly one year since the death of three people in Nottingham - killed on the city's streets in a knife attack.

Communities up and down the UK will be coming together to remember the lives of students Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates, 12 months on from the tragedy which played out up in the East Midlands.

Read more: Vigil and tributes planned to mark one year since Nottingham Attacks

On that day in 2023, Valdo Calocane fatally stabbed the two 19-year-old university students as they were walking home from a night out - before he went on to stab Coates, steal his van and knock down three pedestrians.

During his trial, prosecutors called the attack 'uncompromisingly brutal', and he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024, after admitting the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility - and the attempted murder of three others.

He was sentenced by Mr Justice Turner to an indefinite hospital order and made subject to further restrictions if he is ever discharged, which must be approved by the Justice Secretary.

The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, but senior judges later ruled the punishment wasn't "unduly lenient".

The tributes at Barnaby Webber's cricket club

The tributes to Barnaby

On the day of the incident, tributes for the Somerset-born student poured in from across the world of cricket - as well as from national leaders, his friends, and his family.

Barnaby Webber's family described his death as a 'senseless murder', adding he was a 'beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to'.

Read more: Family remember Barnaby Webber as "beautiful, brilliant and bright"

His parents, David and Emma, and younger brother Charlie said he was 'at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man'

They added: "Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.

"Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.

"A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team."

He played for Taunton-based Bishops Hull, who called him a 'dear friend' and a 'key part' of the club.

Following his death, tributes continued to be paid - and thousands of pounds were raised in his memory, as more details about his funeral were revealed.

Read more: Thousands of pounds raised in memory of Barnaby Webber

'More accountability'

Emily Yap with Charlie Webber and Barnaby Webber

We chatted with one of Barnaby's close friends following his death - Emily Yap.

The Cardiff Uni student spoke to us following the sentencing back in January of Valdo Calocane, saying she was 'angry' at what happened - but called for more accountability.

She said: "Quite frankly, how did the police have a warrant out for Calocane's address nine months before the address and not track him down?

"If the police can't find someone who's not hiding, then what chance do we have in fighting organised crime, or terrorism, or those people who are intentionally trying to hide from them?

"There's bits that I don't understand in this case - and what he's been sentenced for is really difficult to take, when you think about what he did that day."

In July, Emily is taking a 100 kilometre ultra-marathon in Barnaby's memory - raising money for the foundation set up in his name.

Read more: Nottingham attacks: victim's friend calls for more accountability

The Knife Angel

The campaigning by Barnaby's parents has continued - and back in April, his mum Emma made an impassioned plea to stop knife crime, both at home and across the country.

She made a speech in Taunton - where the family are from - in front of hundreds of people to mark the arrival of the Knife Angel in the town.

The statue made its way to the West Country to raise awareness of the negative effects of violence and aggression.

Emma Webber told us: "When you see the knife angel for the first time, it takes your breath away.

"There's a maleficent beauty in it, but when you look closer, and you look at the face, and the hands - I'm choosing to read a message of hope in there.

"It's a catastrophic life event that's happened to us, and everything has turned upside-down in a heartbeat."

Read more: Calls for tougher knife carrying rules, as 'Knife Angel' turns heads in Somerset

Memorial cricket game

A memorial cricket game will be taking place for the Somerset cricketer on Saturday, to mark the anniversary of his death at Bishops Hull.

Proceeds will go to the foundation set up in his name.

On Facebook, the cricket club said: "Next month will mark a year since we lost our dear friend and teammate, Barnaby Webber.

"On Saturday 15th of June, we as a club are organising a memorial event to remember and honour Barney. Please see the poster for any information about the day.

"We would love to see as many of you there as possible to celebrate his incredible life through cricket which he so dearly loved."

The team news is already out, too - with the pink and navy side led by club captain Matt Chanter, those in light and dark blue will be headed-up by Ed Smith - whilst the yellow and navy squad will be led by Charlie Webber, Barnaby's brother.

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