Nottingham victim's 'heroic' last moments as he tried to save his friend revealed – as killer Valdo Calocane could die behind bars
A KNIFE victim's 'heroic' final moments were revealed today after she tried to save her boyfriend in a triple murder – while their attacker faces death behind bars.
Valdo Calocane stabbed Grace O'Malley-Kumar And Barnaby Webberboth 19 years old and 65 years old Ian Coates to death in a brutal frenzy.
8
8
8
8
The 32-year-old then called his brother and told him: “This will be the last time I speak to you. Get the family out of the country.”
When asked if he was going to do something stupid, Calocane replied: “It's already done”.
Nottingham Crown Court was told that Calocane was suffering from an 'extreme' mental illness at the time, including paranoid schizophrenia.
He now risks an indefinite TBS measure or a prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Prosecutors accepted his plea today – meaning Calocane will not stand trial for murder.
Family members cried as the court was told how the… horror unfolded on June 13 last year.
Grace and Barnaby were walking home after a night out at the end of their school year when they were attacked by Calocane, who had been lying in wait for a victim.
'Deliberate and merciless'
Barnaby suffered “serious injuries” after being stabbed “repeatedly” with a dagger the killer pulled from his bag.
As he fell to the ground, Grace showed “incredible courage” in trying to save him by fighting off the killer.
She managed to push Calocane into the road but this prompted him to turn his attention to her, the court was told.
The killer was then “as uncompromisingly brutal in his attack on Grace as he was in his attack on Barnaby” and she collapsed as Barnaby tried to defend himself from the ground.
After stabbing both students, Calocane “calmly” walked away, leaving the pair just 300 meters from their student home with “insurmountable” injuries.
Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said the “brutal” attack was captured from a taxi's dashcam.
He added: “These images show that the devastating violence of the attacks was only mirrored by the deliberate and ruthless manner in which the suspect acted.”
After killing Grace and Barnaby, the rampaging Calocane attempted to break into a house but was punched in the face by a stunned resident.
Undeterred, he made his way to Magdala Road, where he encountered caretaker Ian.
After stabbing the father to death, Calocane stole his van and used it to ram the three pedestrians.
The triple murderer previously admitted that attempted murder of Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett, who were injured by the vehicle.
'HER LAST MOMENTS WERE IN PAIN'
Grace's family cried today as they praised the 'hero student' who wanted to become a doctor like her father.
Her brother James, 17, said Sky News: “Grace's last moments were painful and that really hurts me when I think about it and she was a hero, that was her character.
'She did her best to save her friend. This is how Grace lost her life in the most vulnerable way.
'She would never abandon a friend, ever, and that was very clear in her final moments. She succeeded fighting.”
James also opened up about how he would “never forgive” Calocane for killing Grace and branded her the “best sister I could have asked for”.
Father Dr Sanjoy Kumar said the family hoped Calocane would face a murder trial but said they “have faith in the justice system”.
He also called for tougher action against the knife crime “epidemic” and has a foundation in her memory.
The father added: “It's been a brutal journey since June. I don't think my poor wife has slept a night with many tears. It's been a very sad time.”
Meanwhile, Barnaby's mother Emma Webber told the court today how she wears a lock of her son's hair around her neck every day.
She said: “Barney didn't lose his life on June 13, it was taken from him. Stolen in the most cruel, unprovoked, senseless and evil way imaginable, murdered by a monster sitting in this court today.”
His father David also vowed to continue fighting for justice for his son, who… history student and avid cricketer.
Ian's son James stared straight at Calocane and said to him, “Mine is short, so I hope you're listening, Valdo?”
“Our father was just five months away from retirement and on his way to work when he was brutally murdered, a senseless murder and a life without remorse.
“He had plans to pursue what he loved in retirement, fishing for many years. But a selfish monster decided to go on a killing spree.”
Calocane will be sentenced tomorrow.
8
8
8
8