Nottingham attacks: Families of killed students vow to get justice

The families of two students killed in attacks in Nottingham have vowed to "leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice is properly served".

Valdo Calocane, 32, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the manslaughter of Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, by reason of diminished responsibility.

The students were stabbed in Ilkeston Road, at about 04:00 BST on 13 June.

Calocane also admitted killing 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates.

In a joint statement issued to the PA news agency, the families of Mr Webber and Ms O'Malley-Kumar - who were both students at the University of Nottingham - said: "The loss of our children has devastated our families; our grief has no boundaries.

"Over the past five and a half months, we have struggled to come to terms with the needless and horrific attack that led to them both losing their lives and their bright futures on 13 June.

"We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice is properly served for Barnaby and Grace, and for all those affected by the devastating events of that evening.

"We have taken great comfort from the support we have received from the public and will push to make sure lessons are learnt from this case."

Calocane, who answered to the name Adam Mendes, also pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of three pedestrians - Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett - on the same day after hitting them with a van he had allegedly stolen from Mr Coates.

He pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Webber, Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates.

Karim Khalil KC, prosecuting, said the Crown would need further time to decide whether Calocane's pleas were acceptable or not.

Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, who were studying medicine and history respectively, were walking home when they were attacked.

Mr Coates was then found dead in Magdala Road about an hour later.

Calocane is then alleged to have used Mr Coates' van to drive at the three pedestrians in Milton Street and South Sherwood Street.

Judge Mr Justice Turner adjourned the case until 16 January.

Thousands attended vigils for the victims both at the University of Nottingham and in the city centre in the wake of the attacks.

The family of Mr Webber - from Taunton in Somerset - described their "complete devastation" at his death, saying he was a "beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to".

Ms O'Malley-Kumar's family said she was a "truly wonderful and beautiful young lady", and that she would be "so dearly missed".

The student, from Woodford in north-east London, had represented Essex in cricket as a teenager, and had also played for England Hockey.

Mr Coates worked at the Huntingdon Academy in Nottingham and was four months from retirement.

Two of his sons, Lee and James, said he was a keen fisherman and "die-hard" Nottingham Forest fan.

Nottinghamshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the day after the attacks.

The IOPC investigation looked at whether the actions of Calocane, of no fixed abode, were influenced by the presence of a police car that was following him.

The watchdog said an officer driving the single-crewed vehicle had sight of the suspect driving the van for less than a minute before it hit pedestrians.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: "Our investigation into the circumstances of Nottinghamshire Police's interaction with a van prior to the collision on 13 June was completed in September.

"We have updated the two pedestrians who were injured in the incident and provided the force with our investigation report. We will publish our findings following the conclusion of associated criminal proceedings."

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