Police Admit 'Terrible Error' in Nottingham Stabbing Case Communication
Nottinghamshire Police have publicly acknowledged a "terrible error" after incorrectly informing the partner of a stabbing victim that he died in a road traffic collision. Elaine Newton, the partner of Ian Coates, a 65-year-old school caretaker killed in the 2023 Nottingham attacks, revealed to a public inquiry this week that the mistake made her feel as though her partner had been "killed twice."
Inquiry Details Communication Breakdown
During evidence given on Thursday, Claire Gould, a family liaison adviser from Nottinghamshire Police, stated that the error "never should have happened" but expressed uncertainty about its origin. The inquiry was presented with an email from PC India Proud, who relayed the initial misinformation to Ms. Newton on the morning of June 13, 2023. PC Proud described the situation as "torturous" due to her inability to provide accurate details at the time.
Ms. Newton was first told by officers that Mr. Coates had died in a crash, with the correction coming four hours later. The inquiry highlighted that PC Proud, upon arriving at Ms. Newton's home, relied on information from the control room, which incorrectly identified Mr. Coates as a road traffic collision victim. Julian Blake, counsel to the inquiry, questioned how such a miscommunication occurred, to which Ms. Gould responded that she had not seen the email beforehand and emphasized the need for improved police training on delivering death notifications.
Apologies for Delays and Emotional Testimony
Ms. Gould also apologized for delays in informing Mr. Coates's three sons of their father's death, taking responsibility for the oversight. She became emotional while recalling her decision to phone David Webber, the father of another victim, Barnaby Webber, to inform him of his son's death. Contact details for Mr. Webber's parents were known by 4:22 AM, but they were not notified until after 10:15 AM, despite Mr. Webber expressing concerns by tracking his son's phone to a police station.
The inquiry continues to examine the events surrounding the triple killings, which included the deaths of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, all perpetrated by Valdo Calocane. Calocane, now 34, received an indefinite hospital order in 2024 after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
