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Nottingham attacks: Witness still has nightmares after student killings | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were students at the University of Nottingham | Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were students at the University of Nottingham |
A man who witnessed the killing of two students in the Nottingham attacks says he still has nightmares about the horrors of the fatal stabbings. | A man who witnessed the killing of two students in the Nottingham attacks says he still has nightmares about the horrors of the fatal stabbings. |
Richard - not his real name - called 999 when he saw Valdo Calocane fatally stab Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar from the window of his home. | Richard - not his real name - called 999 when he saw Valdo Calocane fatally stab Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar from the window of his home. |
Calocane, 32, also went on to kill Ian Coates, 65, in the attacks on 13 June. | Calocane, 32, also went on to kill Ian Coates, 65, in the attacks on 13 June. |
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was absolutely terrifying," said Richard. | "I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was absolutely terrifying," said Richard. |
The attacker is being detained at a high-security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | The attacker is being detained at a high-security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
Calocane was known to have serious mental health problems | Calocane was known to have serious mental health problems |
Richard has recalled the "horrific" moment he was "shaking" as he reported the attack to police as it unfolded before his eyes. | Richard has recalled the "horrific" moment he was "shaking" as he reported the attack to police as it unfolded before his eyes. |
"Seeing two young people being attacked and stabbed will never leave me," he told the BBC. | "Seeing two young people being attacked and stabbed will never leave me," he told the BBC. |
"[I was awoken by] blood-curdling screams. It's a student area but this sounded different. It was horrendous. I knew somebody was in trouble. | "[I was awoken by] blood-curdling screams. It's a student area but this sounded different. It was horrendous. I knew somebody was in trouble. |
"It's something I would never wish on anyone. It was dreadful." | "It's something I would never wish on anyone. It was dreadful." |
The students, both aged 19, were stabbed in Ilkeston Road at about 04:00 BST. | The students, both aged 19, were stabbed in Ilkeston Road at about 04:00 BST. |
Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, who were studying medicine and history respectively, had been walking home when they were attacked. | Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, who were studying medicine and history respectively, had been walking home when they were attacked. |
Ian Coates was described as a "much-loved colleague" | Ian Coates was described as a "much-loved colleague" |
Richard, who has started taking anti-depressants since, called police after he saw Calocane attack Mr Webber. | Richard, who has started taking anti-depressants since, called police after he saw Calocane attack Mr Webber. |
"As I was on the phone, who I now know as Grace, came over to the assailant and tried to stop him from attacking Barnaby before [Calocane] turned on her," he said. | "As I was on the phone, who I now know as Grace, came over to the assailant and tried to stop him from attacking Barnaby before [Calocane] turned on her," he said. |
"He callously and calmly just turned around after. He just walked off as if nothing had happened - that shook me." | "He callously and calmly just turned around after. He just walked off as if nothing had happened - that shook me." |
Mr Coates, a school caretaker, was found dead in Magdala Road about an hour later, and Calocane then tried to kill three more pedestrians nearby using Mr Coates' van. | Mr Coates, a school caretaker, was found dead in Magdala Road about an hour later, and Calocane then tried to kill three more pedestrians nearby using Mr Coates' van. |
Richard said he "wishes" he could have done more to help, but police have since told him he would have only put his own life at risk. | Richard said he "wishes" he could have done more to help, but police have since told him he would have only put his own life at risk. |
Footage shows timeline of Nottingham attacks and killer's arrest | Footage shows timeline of Nottingham attacks and killer's arrest |
Footage shows timeline of Nottingham attacks and killer's arrest | Footage shows timeline of Nottingham attacks and killer's arrest |
"It's something I wish I'd never seen and I wish the situation had never happened," he said. "I have been having nightmares since. | "It's something I wish I'd never seen and I wish the situation had never happened," he said. "I have been having nightmares since. |
"I wish I could have done more but that's hindsight. Since last June that's been playing on mind for the past nearly a year. | "I wish I could have done more but that's hindsight. Since last June that's been playing on mind for the past nearly a year. |
"Afterwards you think, I could've rushed downstairs, climbed out, spooked the assailant; I could have shouted, but I was just frozen. | "Afterwards you think, I could've rushed downstairs, climbed out, spooked the assailant; I could have shouted, but I was just frozen. |
"[Police] said to me that I could have been next if I tried to save anybody." | "[Police] said to me that I could have been next if I tried to save anybody." |
Following the attacks, Richard's 999 call with the emergency operator was shared with the press by Nottinghamshire Police without his knowledge or permission, he claimed. | Following the attacks, Richard's 999 call with the emergency operator was shared with the press by Nottinghamshire Police without his knowledge or permission, he claimed. |
The scene in Ilkeston Road, where Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar died | The scene in Ilkeston Road, where Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar died |
He said he "went into panic" when he heard a clip of the conversation back on the media. | He said he "went into panic" when he heard a clip of the conversation back on the media. |
"I felt shocked and disappointed," he said. "The first time I heard [the call] I went into panic again. It took me back to the morning of the day last June. | "I felt shocked and disappointed," he said. "The first time I heard [the call] I went into panic again. It took me back to the morning of the day last June. |
"I was flabbergasted that they hadn't told me they wanted to use it." | "I was flabbergasted that they hadn't told me they wanted to use it." |
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said: "We've been made aware the caller feels upset by hearing the 999 call again and we have apologised for any distress caused." | A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said: "We've been made aware the caller feels upset by hearing the 999 call again and we have apologised for any distress caused." |
Although Calocane was first charged with three counts of murder, medical experts unanimously concluded that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. | Although Calocane was first charged with three counts of murder, medical experts unanimously concluded that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. |
They said this "impaired his ability to exercise self-control". | They said this "impaired his ability to exercise self-control". |
Following his sentencing on 25 January, relatives of loved ones have expressed anger that Calocane was given a hospital order. | Following his sentencing on 25 January, relatives of loved ones have expressed anger that Calocane was given a hospital order. |
Mr Webber's mother has said "true justice has not been served" - a sentiment Richard agrees with. | Mr Webber's mother has said "true justice has not been served" - a sentiment Richard agrees with. |
Reviews into how multiple authorities handled the case are under way. | Reviews into how multiple authorities handled the case are under way. |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Nottingham | Nottingham |
Nottingham attacks | Nottingham attacks |