Latest news with #ValdoCalocane
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Nottingham attacks victims to receive posthumous degrees
Two students who died in the Nottingham attacks in 2023 are to receive posthumous degrees later this Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane in a series of attacks which also killed 65-year-old Ian Coates on 13 University of Nottingham said Barnaby, who was studying history, will receive the honour at a graduation ceremony in late July along with Grace, who was studying to receive a bachelor of medical is understood she will also receive a full posthumous medical degree in 2027. Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, said attending in person would be too painful but friends and his godmother would accept the honour on behalf of the family. The student, from Taunton, Somerset, was coming to the end of his first year at the University of Nottingham when he was killed on his way home from a night had been walking home with Grace when Valdo Calocane fatally stabbed them before going on to kill Mr Coates and using his van to drive into three who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted February, a judge-led public inquiry into the killings was announced by the prime minister following extensive campainging by the victims' families. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Webber said: "I was writing an email back to [University of Nottingham] who are honouring Barney's degree on 28 July. "There are things I can do and things I can't do and I cannot go because I think it would finish me off. "But his best friends from university and his very best friend from school in Somerset and his brother and his godmother are going to go to accept his graduation on behalf of our family."That's the level of real pain that we have to go through every day and we try not to expose that publicly because people don't want or need to see it but I want to raise some light on what's wrong and what needs changing." Mrs Webber told BBC 5Live she had written to government ministers over her concerns around the Victims and Courts Bill which is going through said "more power and decision-making" would be given to hospital and probation managers on the consideration to release people with mental disorders and that all families would be able to do is "request information" given at the agency's discretion. Mrs Webber added victims were "not being treated with the degree of humanity and rights we deserve".A government spokesperson said: "The bill will ensure all victims can request important information about an offender regardless if they are in prison or hospital."We will continue to engage with victims and campaigners are the bill moves through Parliament."A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham said: "We will be offering posthumous degrees for both Barney and Grace at this summer's graduation ceremonies in July and are working with their families to understand how they would prefer to mark this important milestone. "We also appreciate that this likely to be an emotional day for many of their cohort, who will be remembering their friends Barney and Grace."
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' The Victims and Courts Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' The Victims and Courts Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber has criticised new legislation that could leave victims of mentally disordered offenders without certain legal rights as 'utterly outrageous'. The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' The Victims and Courts Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
