30 April 2024 , 06:37
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The parents of Nottingham knife attacks victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar have backed MPs’ calls for their daughter to be awarded the George Cross.
Sinead O’Malley and Sanjoy Kumar say the honour would ensure their 19-year-old daughter is remembered forever after she valiantly tried to save friend Barnaby Webber as he was stabbed 10 times in a street by frenzied Valdo Calocane.
A judge recognised Grace's incredible "sacrifice" and "astonishing bravery" while MPs and senior cops have called for the England under-18s hockey player to receive the highest civilian honour for courage.
Ms O'Malley said: "The George Cross would be a remarkable acknowledgement of her bravery, for sure. Grace is never coming back to us, but we never want her to be forgotten, and this would certainly make sure she is remembered for ever.
“Our hope is it would help her be remembered as the wonderful person that she was, and not just for the horrendous fate she suffered.”
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The university student had tried desperately to save her friend after he was stabbed (Nottinghamshire Police / SWNS)
Ian Coates, 65, was also killed by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham (PA)The George Cross, recommended by the Prime Minister, has been awarded only 160 times since being introduced in 1940. It is reserved for “the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger”.
Paying tribute to his daughter, Dr Kumar said: "The bravery she showed was incredible for a young girl. The accolade would be an example to every other young person.
"The foundation that we’ve set up for Grace — its motto is ‘Let’s be more like Grace’. The world, never mind just England, deserves people like Grace."
Grace's brother, James, said: “She was a hero, that was her character. She tried her best to save her friend." Grace reacted quickly when Barnaby, 19, was targeted by Calocane in a rampage which left three people dead in Nottingham on June 13, 2023.
After slaughtering university students Grace and Barnaby, Calocane killed 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates, stole his van and used it to injure three people at a nearby bus stop.
Barnaby Webber was stabbed repeatedly by the frenzied assailant (PA)In January, Nottingham Crown Court heard Grace had gone to Barnaby’s aid as he was knifed ten times. She screamed: “Don’t do it... Why would you do that?” — then fought for 30 seconds before she too fell, suffering 23 wounds from Calocane’s double-edged hunting knife.
The killer denied murder. His guilty plea on three manslaughter charges was accepted and he was sentenced to be detained indefinitely at a high-security hospital.
Tory MP Marco Longhi, who sits on the Home Affairs select committee, told The Sun: “Grace showed selfless bravery. Her remarkable effort should be rewarded with a posthumous George Cross. This would be a fitting tribute to her and it would be a fitting legacy for her heroism.”
Fellow Tory MP David Morris added: “I fully back calls for Grace to be given the ultimate honour which will recognise what she did in Nottingham.”
Grace’s family first learned of her bravery when they endured the horror of being shown police CCTV of the attack. Dr Kumar said: “I turned my back.
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"The attack was at the corner of my eye, and I was being told by the officers that Grace is fighting and fought Valdo Calocane valiantly for the time that she could. You know what the police’s exact words were? — ‘She tried to fight, and fight, and fight’."
The victims’ families are continuing to call for Calocane to face murder charges.