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The parent of a talented young person who died in theNottinghamstabbing incidents stated that the tragedy was ‘completely preventable’ and urged those responsible for the series of failures to be dismissed.
Dr. Sanjoy Kumar stated that personnel who did not fulfill their duties adequately in the lead-up to and following the 2023 tragedy have managed to hide behind a dismissive attitude and a strong belief that they acted correctly in the case of Valdo Calocane.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar, the 19-year-old daughter of Dr. Kumar, along with her friend and fellow student Barney Webber, also 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, aged 65, were fatally stabbed by Calocane, who was suffering from mental illness, three years ago. An ongoing investigation is revealing how a paranoid schizophrenic with a history of violent behavior was allowed to carry out the killings.
He received an indefinite hospital order following his guilty plea to three charges of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility — a decision that the victims’ families have consistently criticized the Crown Prosecution Service for.
And Dr. Kumar stated he would examine all possible legal options to get the case sent back to court so that Calocane could face murder charges, arguing that the reduced manslaughter verdict was ‘unreliable’.
In an interview with the Mail’s Trial+ podcast,Dr. Kumar mentioned that he and his wife, Sinead O’Malley-Kumar, have been distressed by witnesses who dared to inform the inquiry: “We didn’t commit this, but it might not have stopped the attacks.”
He stated: “I can’t grasp the audacity of individuals who attend an inquiry and make remarks like that to you.”
Let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be. Let’s return to the time when people simply performed the tasks they were hired to do.


We do not require changes to the law, as there was nothing technical about this situation. People simply failed to perform their duties.
The Nottingham incidents were entirely preventable. If you were part of it and a major failure occurred, then you should be dismissed.
The court was informed that Calocane was hospitalized four times under the Mental Health Act in the years before the crime.
He also had a record of violent incidents that necessitated police intervention, beginning in 2020.
This involved frightening a classmate to the point that she jumped out of a window to flee him, resulting in a broken back, as well as attacking a roommate and striking a police officer.
He also assaulted two coworkers and was seen grabbing a knife before running away the month prior to his fatal attack in Nottingham.
However, Calocane was never found guilty, and whenever the police detained him, specialists often let him return to society.
His actions were so alarming that a physician cautioned in July 2020 that Calocane “will end up killing someone,” but he was released two weeks afterward.
It indicated that Calocane was free to roam the streets of Nottingham during the early hours of June 13, 2023, stepping out from the shadows to assault Barney, and subsequently Grace, who bravely intervened to help him.
Calocane later attacked Mr. Coates, taking his work van and leaving him seriously injured. He drove the van into pedestrians before eventually being halted by law enforcement.





The investigation in London has not reached the midpoint yet, but the families claim the inquiry has already highlighted shortcomings across all the agencies involved.
“When you combine all those blocks, they simply refuse to remain upright,” said Dr. Kumar.
And I would genuinely be quite surprised, truly, if this verdict (for manslaughter) is determined to be secure, as I don’t believe it is.
There are numerous flaws in how this case was constructed by the CPS and quickly processed, and I believe that by the conclusion of the inquiry, you will likely wonder if this conviction is reliable.
And the response to that is, I don’t believe it is as it currently is.
Dr. Kumar also honored his daughter, a medical student at Nottingham who played hockey for England and cricket at the county level, for bravely taking on Calocane as the strong opponent attacked her friend.
She received the George Medal for courage after her passing.
He stated: “Of course, as a parent, you tend to become self-centered, and you find yourself thinking: I wish you would just leave.”
She was merely a young woman, yet that was not part of her genetic makeup. She would never abandon a partner.
I was a father who was completely devoted to his daughter, just like many fathers throughout the country.
And even though I tried to be firm and guide her, she always warmed my heart every time I saw her. I could not love her any more.
The investigation will resume on Monday.
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