Nottingham Inquiry hears survivors found failings ‘very difficult’ to hear
Valdo Calocane stabbed Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and grandfather Ian Coates, 65, in the early hours of June 13 2023.
The survivors of an attack by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane have found it “very difficult” to hear the extent of failings by some of the public bodies that interacted with the triple killer, their solicitor has said.
Greg Almond, who represents surviving victims Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, said they feel “let down” and like an “afterthought” after hearing evidence in the Nottingham Inquiry, which is examining events leading up to and after Calocane’s violent rampage.
The University of Nottingham graduate fatally stabbed first-year students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and grandfather Ian Coates, 65, in the early hours of June 13 2023.
He then struck Mr Birkett and Ms Miller, and another pedestrian Marcin Gawronski, with a van he stole from Mr Coates.
Mr Birkett suffered a traumatic brain injury while Ms Miller was left with fractured ribs, a broken toe and a damaged spleen.
Mr Almond, who is head of serious injury at Rothera Bray, told the Press Association: “From their perspective, it’s been very difficult to hear about the failings and the extent of the failings, I suppose, across so many different authorities, and their local trusted authorities, such as the NHS, the police and the council, that they rely on.
“They obviously live in Nottingham and they use those services.”
He said Mr Birkett and Ms Miller felt they “weren’t properly considered” in reviews that took place before the inquiry, which is now in its final week.
He said: “They’ve always felt that their injuries haven’t fully been appreciated.
“It’s vital that victims play an important part in whatever process following such a serious incident.”
During his evidence in March, Mr Birkett said he wanted to know the “severity” of what Calocane did, but told the inquiry that his family liaison officer, now retired detective constable Raj Johal, did not tell him about the killer’s previous interactions with the police.
Calocane had contact with the police multiple times from May 2020, including incidents when he assaulted his flatmate and punched a police officer.
Mr Birkett’s partner Tracey Hodgson had told the inquiry: “It’s so disappointing to know that she would have known all of this and she wasn’t allowed to tell us, obviously.”
Mr Almond said that incident with the police was “obviously very upsetting” for them.
He added: “It’s trying to understand how that can happen. When somebody asks a very direct question about something that is so crucial … I’m not sure why there wasn’t a full disclosure about what the police understood.”
Ms Johal told the inquiry she “didn’t know” about Calocane’s previous contact with police when Mr Birkett and his partner asked about.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) said it dismissed 11 members of staff for inappropriately accessing the medical records of Mr Webber, Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates, while investigations are ongoing into inappropriate access of the files of the surviving victims.
The inquiry heard that the investigations into the survivors’ medical records began only after their solicitor inquired about it in March 2025.
NUH medical director Dr Manjeet Shehmar told the inquiry last week that the trust’s focus was “very much on the deceased victims” and she had not considered the survivors.
Mr Almond said: “When you hear that sort of thing, it’s difficult to appreciate how let down they (the survivors) feel and how difficult that must be for them.
“We don’t know what the extent of that has been and we’re urgently seeking clarification on that. Again, it’s that point about being an afterthought.”
The solicitor said the inquiry’s evidence will “take time” for the survivors to process, adding: “They’re looking forward to trying to move on with their lives, albeit it’s still got some way to go.”