Barnaby Webber’s mum shares memories of her ‘beautiful boy’ at Nottingham vigil & tells mourners ‘hold no hate’
BARNABY Webber’s mum has shared memories of her “beautiful boy” at a vigil in Nottingham as she tells mourners “hold no hate”.
As crowds gathered in Market Square in the city centre on Thursday, the distraught families of Barnaby Webber, Grace Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 66, embraced each other.
The three were tragically murdered during the early hours of Tuesday morning when suspected killer Valdo Calocane, 31, went on a rampage.
Barnaby’s heartbroken mum Emma today told a sea of people that the “monstrous individual” responsible for the horrifying deaths “will not define us”.
Bravely speaking and fighting back tears, she said: “I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves.
“However, this evil person is just that. He is just a person.
“Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.
“I want you to know [that Barnaby] is more than a victim of a senseless murder.
“He loved pesto pasta, but he hated cottage pie.
“He was obsessed with aeroplanes and he still carried a dream of being a pilot in the RAF one day.”
Addressing Barnaby, she added: “My beautiful, beautiful boy, you have mine, your dad and your brother’s heart forever.”
Grace’s family also fought back tears as they delivered heartfelt words.
Her dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar, mum and brother stood together as they told how their family had “become three”.
Mr Coates’ sons also showed up in moving Nottingham Forest FC shirts with “RIP Dad 1” printed on the back.
The tragedy has brought Nottingham to a standstill with hundreds of people coming out to show their support and remember the three.
Calocane was today named as the alleged killer.
The suspected attacker was arrested on suspicion of murder less than two hours after the first horror attacks began during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
He has remained in police custody ever since – with cops this morning being granted more time to ask him questions.
It was revealed earlier today that Calocane too attended the Univerity of Nottingham, but police said they did not believe that was linked to the attacks.
He had graduated last year with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering.
In recent days it came to light that he was understood to be of West African origin.
After Barnaby, Grace and Ian were stabbed, one man was critically injured after the alleged killer tried to mow him down with the van he’d stolen.
That man, who has been named locally as Wayne Birkett, 58, is still fighting for his life in hospital.
At a heartbreaking vigil last night, Barnaby and Grace’s fathers fought back tears as they paid tribute to their children.
Barnaby’s dad David’s voice cracked as he opened up about losing his “baby boy”, while Grace’s father reminded the “sea of people” to look after one another.
Dr Sanjoy Kumar told the sobbing crowd: “We have children who were taken away prematurely from us, and that should never happen to any parent.
“But all I can say to all of you guys is thank you for the things you did for our daughter and Barney.”
Police were first rushed to Ilkeston Road just after 4am on Tuesday after witnesses revealed they heard “blood-curdling screams“.
This was said to be the horror moment Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar were knifed to death as they walked home from a nightclub.
In the short time that followed school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was allegedly killed by the same knifeman just streets away from the students.
Police were then raced to Milton Street where Ian’s stolen van was used to run over three people – leaving one man in a critical condition with two others suffering minor injuries.
It comes after The Sun yesterday exclusively revealed that the alleged killer was fought off while trying to break into a hostel.
CCTV showed a man clad in black trying to climb through a ground floor window at Seely Hirst House on Mapperley Road at 4.08am on Tuesday – just minutes after two bodies were found four miles away.
Exclusive footage obtained by Sun Online showed a man, who would give his name only as Trevor, punch Calocane in the face so he couldn’t climb in.
The hooded man was then said to have screamed ‘let me in‘ as he tried to jump through the window.