Valdo Calocane: Nottingham Inquiry Victims and Failures

The families of three people killed in Nottingham on a quiet June morning have spent years fighting for answers about how the system failed to stop their loved ones’ attacker. What emerged this year — through a public inquiry and independent reviews — paints a picture of missed warnings, broken handoffs, and a mental health system that lost track of a man known to be dangerous.

Victims killed: 3 ·
Date of attack: 13 June 2023 ·
Sentence: Indefinite hospital order ·
Guilty plea: Manslaughter and attempted murder

These facts establish the baseline of a case defined by systemic failures and unanswered questions.

Who are the victims of the Nottingham attacks?

Who is Marley Gascoine?

Marley Gascoine, 50, was a school caretaker from the Nottingham area. He was one of three people killed on 13 June 2023. His death, alongside those of two 19-year-old students, drew national attention. Little has been publicly disclosed about his personal life, but his family has been represented at inquiry hearings and has called for accountability from the healthcare system. His name appears consistently in all official accounts of the attack.

Who is Emma Webber?

Emma Webber is the mother of Barnaby Webber, one of the two 19-year-olds killed. She has become a prominent public voice, calling for the “whole truth” to emerge at the inquiry, as reported by BBC News. She has spoken publicly about the frustration of not having a murder trial and about the emotional toll on families. The Independent reported that she said the lack of a murder trial “robbed” them of justice.

Are Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s parents doctors?

Yes. Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s parents are Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O’Malley, both medical doctors. Their professional background has been cited in discussions about patient confidentiality, with the family advocating for mandatory breach of confidentiality in extreme cases to prevent future tragedies. They have been active participants in the inquiry, as noted by attending hearings and giving statements.

Who are the parents of Grace O’Malley?

Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s parents are Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O’Malley. They are both physicians. Her father Dr. Sanjoy Kumar has worked in the NHS. Her mother Dr. Sinead O’Malley is also a medical professional. They have publicly spoken about the need for medics to breach patient confidentiality when a patient poses a clear risk to the public.

Who are Barnaby Webber’s parents?

Barnaby Webber’s parents are Emma Webber and David Webber. Emma Webber has been a vocal advocate for transparency in the inquiry. David Webber has also been involved, supporting his wife in their public calls for accountability. The family has described the loss of their son as devastating and has pushed for systemic change in mental health care.

Who is the chair of the Nottingham inquiry?

The chair of the Nottingham inquiry has not been explicitly named in the provided research materials. Official inquiry communications from The Nottingham Inquiry indicate it is a public inquiry, and such inquiries are typically chaired by a senior judge or legal expert with experience in complex public investigations. The chair’s identity will be confirmed as hearings progress.

The catch: Without a named chair publicly available at this stage, the inquiry’s procedural authority remains somewhat opaque, though the status as a formal public inquiry ensures statutory powers to compel evidence.

What mental health issues did Valdo Calocane have?

Valdo Calocane had a diagnosed mental illness that required antipsychotic medication. The NHS England independent investigation, published on 5 February 2025, found that he refused injectable medication because he did not like needles. BBC News reported that the care review found he “deceived and out-manoeuvred” medical staff. BBC also reported that he had been hospitalized four times under the Mental Health Act before the attacks (BBC News report). The inquiry is examining his mental healthcare before the attacks.

The Care Quality Commission rapid review described the care as involving “a series of errors, omissions, and misjudgments.” The inspection body also found systemic issues with community mental health care, including a shortage of mental health staff, and poor integration between mental health services and other healthcare, social care, and support services, including police.

BBC News also reported that the inquiry heard evidence about a known history of non-compliance with medication and violence when unwell, and that Calocane was effectively “lost” and released from services “unmedicated and unmanaged.”

The implication: Calocane’s case was not one of an invisible patient — he was known to multiple agencies — but one where warnings were seen and not acted upon.

Why was Valdo Calocane not charged with murder?

Valdo Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder, not murder. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted the pleas on the basis of his mental state at the time of the attacks. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under Section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act. The Independent reported that victims’ families said the lack of a murder trial “robbed” them of justice. ITV News also covered the families’ anger, noting that police and healthcare failures compounded the sense of betrayal.

Why this matters: The legal outcome reflects a fundamental tension between treating mental illness as a mitigating factor and holding perpetrators accountable for violence.

How have the victims’ families responded?

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, has been the most prominent family member speaking out. She called for the “whole truth” to emerge at the inquiry. The parents of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O’Malley, have spoken about the need for medics to breach patient confidentiality in extreme cases to prevent similar tragedies. The Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation was established in her memory. Families have expressed frustration over the lack of a murder trial, with several news outlets (BBC News, ITV News, The Independent) covering their statements.

The pattern: The families have moved from grief to advocacy, using the inquiry as a platform to demand policy changes that may prevent future tragedies.

Timeline of events

• 13 June 2023 – Valdo Calocane carries out a violent rampage in Nottingham, killing three people. (BBC News report)
• 24 January 2024 – Calocane sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder.
• 5 February 2025 – Care review published; finds Calocane refused injectable medication because he did not like needles. (NHS England independent investigation)
• 30 April 2026 – BBC reports on first day of public inquiry hearings: Calocane “deceived and out-manoeuvred” medical staff. (BBC News report)
• 8 June 2026 – The Independent reports: Victim’s mother says lack of murder trial “robbed” them of justice.
• Ongoing – Nottingham Inquiry continues to hear evidence from medical staff, families, and experts. (The Nottingham Inquiry official site)

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

“We need the whole truth to emerge at the inquiry.”

— Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, speaking to the press (as reported by BBC News)

“If medics had breached confidentiality, this tragedy could have been prevented.”

— Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O’Malley, parents of Grace O’Malley-Kumar (as reported by ITV News)

“The independent investigation concluded there were clear failings in the care and treatment provided.”

— NHS England, statement on the independent investigation (February 2025)

“A series of errors, omissions, and misjudgments.”

— Care Quality Commission, rapid review findings

The challenge for the inquiry is to turn these individual testimonies and documented errors into a coherent policy roadmap. The families have named the failures. The independent reviews have confirmed them. The question now is whether the system will act.

Frequently asked questions

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