The tragic death of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old British-Indian medical student, in Nottingham, England, has led to demands for a public inquiry into the handling of her attacker’s mental health care. Grace, along with her friend Barnaby Webber, was killed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023. Calocane, who has since been detained under a mental health order, also killed a third person during the attack.
Grace’s father, Sanjoy Kumar, has stated that the attack could have been prevented had Calocane’s mental health been managed effectively. “If this man had been treated and had taken his medication, this whole attack would have been avoided,” Kumar told the BBC.
A review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) revealed “a series of errors, omissions, and misjudgments” by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), which managed Calocane’s care from May 2020 to September 2022. The review highlighted issues such as Calocane’s struggle with psychosis and difficulties in adhering to his medication regimen.
The families of the victims are now calling for a statutory public inquiry led by a judge to ensure systemic improvements. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the government and Attorney General are “actively considering” initiating an inquiry.
The victims’ families have criticized the care provided, stating, “This report shows major, widespread failures in how the mental health trust handled Calocane.” They argue that the clinicians involved must be held accountable for their failures.
The government’s response to these calls for inquiry and systemic change is awaited.
