Nottingham attacks: Valdo Calocane charged with three counts of murder

Aman has been charged with the murders of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in Nottingham.

Nineteen-year-old students Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Mr Coates, 65, were stabbed in the early hours of Tuesday.

Valdo Calocane has also been charged with attempted murder after three people were injured, one critically, when they were hit by a van.

The 31-year-old will appear before magistrates in the city on Saturday.

University of Nottingham students Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar were fatally stabbed in Ilkeston Road, just after 04:00 BST on Tuesday, while Mr Coates was found dead with knife injuries in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen.

Mr Calocane, of no fixed address, is accused of using the van to drive at pedestrians.

One man was struck in Milton Street and left in a critical condition, but a Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust spokesman said he was now stable.

A number of roads in Nottingham city centre were cordoned off on Tuesday

Police said an attempt was also made to run over two other pedestrians in the Sherwood Street area. They are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received a referral from police and was investigating.

A spokesman for the police watchdog said: “We have viewed dashcam footage from the police car and can confirm the officer, in a single-crewed vehicle en route to a linked incident, had sight of the van for less than a minute before the collision in the South Sherwood Street area. The officer immediately stopped to provide first aid.

“We will be contacting the two people injured in the collision to wish them a speedy recovery and advise them that we have decided to investigate this specific police interaction.

“Our investigation will consider whether the actions of the van driver were influenced by the police car’s presence shortly before he collided with the two pedestrians.”

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “These charges are a significant development and arise as a result of our thorough investigation into these horrific incidents that occurred in our city.

“We are keenly aware of the deep emotion being felt surrounding these tragic events and the high level of interest, not only in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire but also across the whole country.

“However, posting prejudicial information online about an active case could amount to contempt of court and, in the most serious cases, have the potential to cause the collapse of a trial.”

Police previously revealed Mr Calocane was a former University of Nottingham student, but said “this is not believed to be connected with the attack”.

The dual Guinea-Bissau/

Portuguese national had settled status in the UK through his Portuguese citizenship.

The BBC understands he grew up in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

Mr Webber, from Taunton, Somerset, was a first-year history student and keen cricketer, described as “fun, friendly, and full of life in his seminars”.

Ms O’Malley-Kumar, from north-east London, was in her first year of studying medicine, while playing top-flight hockey at university. Her family said she was “an adored daughter and sister”.

Mr Coates worked at the Huntingdon Academy in Nottingham and was four months from retirement.

His sons, Lee and James, said he was a keen fisherman and “diehard” Nottingham Forest fan.

Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief in the city and beyond.

Thousands of people gathered at emotional vigils - at the university on Wednesday and then in the Old Market Square in the city centre on Thursday - where relatives addressed the crowds and paid tribute to their loved ones.

On Friday, Mr Webber’s family visited the scene of where he was stabbed.

They said they laid flowers at the spot in Ilkeston Road because “we owe it to both Barnaby and Grace to let them know we are here”.

“As has been expressed by so many already, heartbreak cannot begin to describe our loss,” his family said.

“As painful as this tribute today has been, it is yet another step forward on the very long, dark journey we have been forced to take.”

The England and Australia men’s cricket teams also paid tribute to those who died at the start of the Ashes test series at Edgbaston on Friday.

Players wore black armbands as a mark of respect and to “show solidarity”, with a minute’s silence observed before the national anthems.

Both Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber were keen and talented cricketers.

A trumpeter from England’s Barmy Army supporters group played Amazing Grace during the match in memory of the pair.

The tribute took place during the 56th over, chosen because 56 was Mr Webber’s player number.

SOURCE: BBC