Nottingham Tragedy Unfolds in the Courageous Last Moments of Students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber

In a chilling incident that has left Nottingham in mourning, students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, fell victim to a brutal knife attack by 32-year-old Valdo Calocane. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of a Tuesday morning, as the two friends were making their way home from a night out, their final moments caught in a haunting CCTV footage that depicted them in high spirits, unaware of the impending danger.

The pair had been enjoying their evening at PRYZM nightclub and were seen on Ilkeston Road, close to home, playfully engaging with each other. The footage, a poignant reminder of their vibrant lives, showed them passing by a car sales compound called Carlot, just minutes before their lives were cruelly cut short.

Local residents described hearing terrifying screams around 4 a.m. and witnessing a distressing scene where Grace and Barnaby were repeatedly stabbed. Eyewitness accounts reveal a harrowing struggle where Grace, in a valiant attempt to save Barnaby, confronted the attacker but tragically, both students succumbed to their injuries.

The aftermath of the attack saw the community grappling with shock and sorrow. Grace’s younger brother, James, in a moving tribute, shared how his sister’s brave actions in her final moments were testament to her indomitable spirit and loyalty to her friends. Wearing his sister’s earring as a memento, James expressed the profound loss of Grace’s absence and her enduring presence in their lives.

Valdo Calocane, identified as the assailant, was later found to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Despite his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, the initial sentencing to an indefinite hospital order sparked public outcry and led to a review by the Court of Appeal, seeking justice for the victims and their families.

This tragic event not only highlights the devastating impact of violent crime but also underscores the courageous spirit of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, whose lives and final act of bravery will be remembered by a community still reeling from their loss.