Stab victims tested for drugs - but killer was not

A significant disparity in post-incident procedures has emerged at the Nottingham Inquiry, where families of attack victims have revealed that their deceased loved ones underwent toxicology testing while the perpetrator, Valdo Calocane, successfully refused such examinations.

The tragic events of June 13, 2023, claimed the lives of university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, who were fatally stabbed while returning from an evening out. Calocane also killed Ian Coates and attempted to murder three additional individuals.

Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, father of victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, testified before the judge-led inquiry regarding what he characterized as a disturbing double standard in the investigation's approach to toxicology testing.

Examination of toxicology protocols reveals inconsistencies

The inquiry, chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC, is conducting a comprehensive review of the circumstances leading to the attacks and the subsequent actions taken by various agencies. Dr. Kumar's testimony highlighted concerning procedural discrepancies.

Dr. Kumar, who serves as a general practitioner and formerly worked as a forensic medical examiner with the Metropolitan Police, described his shock upon learning that toxicology samples were collected from the victims without explicit disclosure to the families.

"Police requested that my wife Sinead and I sign a human tissue form to facilitate the release of Grace's body," Dr. Kumar explained. "Despite my professional background, I had never encountered such documentation in my career. Crucially, we were not informed that signing this form would authorize the collection of samples for drug and alcohol testing."

The families learned that Calocane had declined to provide toxicology samples while in custody, a refusal that was accepted by authorities. Dr. Kumar specifically inquired about alternative testing methods, including hair sampling, but was informed that no biological samples were obtained from the perpetrator.

Investigation procedures under scrutiny

Nottinghamshire Police acknowledged their failure to secure toxicology samples from Calocane during the inquiry proceedings. The force stated that their investigation revealed a "complete absence of any reference to drugs or drug abuse," which may have influenced their approach to testing protocols.

The contrast between the mandatory testing of deceased victims and the optional nature of testing for the suspect has raised questions about standard investigative procedures and the protection of victims' dignity in post-mortem examinations.

Privacy breaches affect victim families

Additional testimony revealed unauthorized access to medical records belonging to the three deceased individuals. Sinead Kumar's inquiries into whether Calocane's medical records had been shared with forensic psychiatrist Professor Nigel Blackwood, who prepared reports for the Crown Prosecution Service, led to a broader audit by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

This audit uncovered inappropriate access to medical records that extended across multiple healthcare trusts, raising serious questions about data protection and patient confidentiality protocols.

Professional misconduct compounds family trauma

The inquiry also addressed disturbing communications between police officers regarding the attacks. Barnaby Webber's parents, David and Emma Webber, testified about their discovery of offensive WhatsApp messages shared by officers investigating their son's death.

Emma Webber recounted being initially notified by a family liaison officer about potential media coverage of the messages but receiving no specific details about their content. The family only learned the full extent of the communications after Dr. Kumar contacted the chief constable directly.

"The WhatsApp messages contained language describing our children as being 'properly butchered,'" Emma Webber testified. "Reading such grotesque and disgusting commentary about our loved ones was profoundly destructive."

The officers responsible for these communications have since been disciplined, according to testimony provided to the inquiry.

Systemic concerns about victim treatment

David Webber's testimony highlighted what the families perceive as unequal treatment between the perpetrator and victims. He noted that while authorities consistently emphasized the importance of protecting Calocane's privacy rights, the same consideration was not extended to the victims or their families.

"Throughout this process, we were repeatedly told that the perpetrator's privacy was of paramount importance," David Webber stated. "However, this same protection was not afforded to our children, who were the innocent victims of these horrific crimes."

The ongoing inquiry continues to examine these procedural and ethical concerns as part of its comprehensive review of the case management and institutional responses to the Nottingham attacks.