Who was Barnaby Webber and what happened to him?
BARNABY Webber was one of three victims stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane in what has been called a “despicable and murderous” rampage.
Here we look at who Barnaby Webber was and what happened Nottingham in 2023.
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Who was Barnaby Webber?
In June 2023, a knifeman stabbed him three innocent people in Nottingham.
Valdo Calocane stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumarboth 19 and caregiver Ian Coates65.
Barnaby Webber was a 19-year-old 'passionate' cricketer' who, together with girlfriend Grace, had made the selection for his university cricket team.
On the day of the incident, Barnaby and Grace strolled down the street and turned to talk to each other with animated arms as they headed home after a night out.
But tragically, the teens never returned to their university building.
After the horrific incident, in June 2023, Barnaby's mother shared memories of her 'beautiful boy' at a vigil in Nottingham, telling mourners 'have no hatred'.
Barnaby is devastated mother Emma told the sea of people that the “monstrous individual” responsible for the gruesome deaths “will not define us.”
Speaking courageously and fighting back tears, she said, “I know he will get the retribution he deserves.
“However, this evil person is exactly that. He's just one person.
“Please do not harbor hatred related to any color, gender or religion.
“I want you to know [that Barnaby] is more than a victim of a senseless murder.
'He loved pasta with pesto, but he hated cottage pie.
“He was obsessed with airplanes and still dreamed of becoming a pilot in the United States RAF one day.”
“My beautiful, beautiful boy, you have mine, your father's and your brother's heart forever.”
Emma Webber
What happened in Nottingham?
Police rushed to Ilkeston Road just after 4am on June 13, 2023, after witnesses revealed they had heard”blood-curdling screams“.
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, Calocane attempted to break into a house but was punched in the face by a stunned resident.
Undeterred, Calocane made his way to Magdala Road, where he encountered caretaker Ian.
Then he used a bus hitting three pedestrians.
Following this, police announced that a “major incident” occurred around 7 a.m.
In the hours that followed, police revealed that three people were dead, another was fighting for his life and two were injured.
Valdo Calocane was identified as the man responsible and as a result: had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
On June 16, three days after the attack, Valdo Calocane was indicted with the triple murder.
The court was told Calocane was suffering from “extreme” mental illness at the time.
Mr Khalil told the court that Calocane had been dismembered at least four times before the attack but was “actively concealing the symptoms of psychosis”.
In January 2024 he was locked up in Ashworth high security hospital after pleading guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
This means he will not be released as long as he continues to pose a risk to the public – which could be for the rest of his life.
During sentencing, Judge Turner said the attack was 'frenzied', adding: 'You committed a series of atrocities in this city which ended the lives of three people in this city.
“Your sickening crimes have both shocked the nation and devastated the lives of your surviving victims and the families of all of them.
“Your mental health status does not diminish the horror of your actions and the destructive impact it has had.”
What happened to Barnaby Webber?
On June 13, 2023, Barnaby and Grace both walked home after a New Year's Eve night out.
CCTV footage showed them deep in conversation as they wandered along the footpath, with no idea of Calocane.
He is said to have been lying in wait for a victim and jumped on the pair with a dagger in his hand that he had taken from his bag.
After the attack, Grace is hailed as a 'hero' for trying to save her boyfriend who suffered “serious injuries” after being stabbed “repeatedly”.
As Barnaby collapsed, Grace bravely tried to stop Calocane and push him into the road.
However, he then turned his attention to her – and was “as uncompromisingly brutal in his attack on Grace as he was in his attack on Barnaby”.
The pair were left dying on the footpath with 'unsurvivable' injuries just 300 meters from their halls – while Calocane 'calmly' walked away.
That was after I attacked Barnaby and Grace the murderer ran into caretaker Ian.
He stabbed the grandfather to death, stole his van and rammed the three pedestrians.
The triple killer also previously admitted the attempted murder of Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett – who were injured by the vehicle.
Who are the victims of the Nottingham attack?
Barnaby Webber was the first victim in Nottingham to be named locally.
His girlfriend Grace Kumar, who studied at the same university, also tragically died next to him on Ilkeston Road.
Grace was an enthusiast hockey player who has represented England under-16 and under-18 teams and local clubs including Southgate Hockey Club in the north London.
The student was also a gifted cricketer, and Woodford Wells Cricket Club described her as “fun, friendly and brilliant”.
A third victim, carer Ian Coates, was also fatally stabbed.
Ian's sons Lee and James Coates describe him as “massive, massive football fan” and an “amazing father,” adding that his death had “turned everyone's world upside down.”
Lee told reporters: “He was supposed to retire in four months, he was still grafting.
“It turned everyone's world upside down.”
Jamie added: “No one deserves this, but certainly not him. None of them did it, it's a tragedy.”