Heroic Nottingham victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar 'posthumously deserves George Cross', says former top cop

HEROIC Grace O'Malley-Kumar should be awarded a George Cross posthumously, a former senior police officer said earlier today.

Grace, who gave her life to save her friend Barnaby Webberdeserves the non-military version of the Victoria Cross, said ex-chief Supt Dal Babu.

Former Met Chief Supt Dal Babu has called on Grace O'Malley-Kumar to receive a George Cross posthumouslyCredit: Facebook

The gong is the non-military version of the Victoria Cross and would be available to Grace, whose bravery was praised by judge Mr. Justice TurnerCredit: Alamy

The couple, both 19, were murdered by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane32, inside Nottingham last June before also taking the life of carer Ian Coates, 65.

Judge Justice Turner praised Grace's “astonishing courage” as he sentenced Calocane, who admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, to indefinite detention in a high-security hospital.

Mr Babu said: “Grace tried to save Barnaby.

“We should look at some kind George Cross medal.”

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He also exploded Notts' Top cop Kate Meynell, for hiding out about the case after it came to light, Calocane could have been arrested sooner.

He said: 'You would think the chief constable would have made himself available for this.'

The attorney general must assess whether Calocane's sentence was unnecessarily lenient, after the victims' families said they were “instigated” into accepting the manslaughter plea.

He could be eligible for release within three years on the basis of the TBS measure imposed.

Labor's Lord Keir Starmer said today that the families of Calocane's victims are owed a public inquiry into the circumstances that led to the deaths.