Mother of Nottingham Attack Victim Vows to 'Fight to the Bitter End' for Truth at Public Inquiry
Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber who was tragically killed in the 2023 Nottingham attacks, has declared she will "fight to the bitter end" to uncover the full truth about how triple killer Valdo Calocane was free to commit his atrocities. Her powerful statement comes as a statutory public inquiry into the incident begins on Monday, with Webber expressing feelings of being "overwhelmed, apprehensive and anxious" about the proceedings.
Details of the Nottingham Attacks and Legal Proceedings
On June 13, 2023, Valdo Calocane launched a frenzied attack that claimed the lives of three innocent people: 19-year-old university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, along with 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates. The following morning, Calocane drove a van into pedestrians Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski, leaving all three with severe, life-altering injuries.
Calocane, who had been previously diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, received an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting three counts of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. The upcoming inquiry will thoroughly examine the "events, acts and omissions" that occurred before the attacks and explore measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Institutional Failures and Family Demands
Emma Webber, a 53-year-old NHS communications manager, has been vocal about what she describes as institutional efforts to "keep us quiet" since the attacks. She stated that apart from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), she cannot name a single institution that has acted with integrity, transparency and candour in the aftermath of the tragedy.
"I would say, without exception, we've had evasive, defensive approaches from all of them," Webber revealed. "Marking their own homework and closing of ranks to try to keep us quiet."
The inquiry will specifically investigate Calocane's NHS healthcare and his interactions with police forces before the attacks. A CQC report examining Calocane's care at the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust between May 2020 and September 2022 identified a "series of errors, omissions and misjudgments" that continued to pose inherent risks to patient and public safety.
Documented Healthcare Failures and Police Investigations
An independent review conducted by Theemis Consulting uncovered a "catalogue of failings" in the NHS treatment provided to Calocane. Most alarmingly, the review revealed that Calocane had no contact with mental health services or his general practitioner for approximately nine months preceding the attacks.
Additionally, the police watchdog is currently investigating both Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire police forces. This investigation follows reports that Calocane attacked two co-workers at a warehouse in Leicestershire about five weeks before his deadly rampage in Nottingham.
Family Statements and Expectations for the Inquiry
In a joint statement, the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates expressed their collective frustration with the "failure and silence" they have encountered. They emphasized that the inquiry must focus on holding accountable those who neglected their professional responsibilities.
"We want it to expose systemic neglect with a thorough examination of the missed opportunities by mental health services, law enforcement, and judicial bodies," the families stated. They also intend to challenge the legal framework that permitted Calocane to receive a hospital order rather than a life sentence.
Webber anticipates "shocking" revelations during the inquiry proceedings, with potentially thousands of documents related to Calocane's care and police investigations expected to be released. She plans to attend every hearing alongside other family members until the inquiry concludes in June.
Personal Commitment and Broader Implications
When asked about her faith in the inquiry leading to substantial change, Webber described it as a "conduit to ensuring that meaningful change can happen," while cautioning that positive outcomes cannot be assumed. "It's not going to be the end for us, but it's going to be the beginning of the reckoning," she asserted.
Reflecting on her personal journey since the tragedy, Webber shared: "I've been in fight mode and hyper-aware mode for years now. It's sort of my norm because there's never been a period where it's relented or it's been quieter and we can try and process some of our grief."
She concluded with a powerful maternal commitment: "We are doggedly going to pursue this fight to the bitter end and we will get justice which means that my soul will be at rest one day knowing I did absolutely everything I could for him. That's my son and I want to be able to say that I've done absolutely everything I can."
