12 June 2024 , 17:00
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A mum whose son was killed a year ago as he walked home with a fellow student has shared the last heartbreaking texts they shared in the hours before his death.
Barnaby Webber was stabbed to death in Nottingham along with friend Grace O’Malley Kumar by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane who later went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates.
Barnaby's grieving mum Emma has shared how, one year on from her son's death on June 13 last year, she struggles to look at the last messages she shared with her son in which they joked about him having a hangover and needing a job.
Barnaby with brother Charlie and parents David and Emma (Webber Family)Heartbroken Emma shared that she last looked at the messages on Barnaby's birthday and is still searching for answers as to how Calocane was able to kill her son. He was on the run from police when he carried out the stabbings.
She told the Mirror she has spent the last week remembering all the 'last' things she did with Barnaby a year ago. Emma said: “I have spent the past week thinking about all the ‘last’ things we did a year ago. The last time we did this, the last time we did that.
Terrified witness says 'man went up in air' in horror Nottingham attack
The family has spoken out one year on (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)"Barney only drove back up to Nottingham on the Tuesday before, to play bloody cricket. That was the only reason he was there, to play cricket. My last message to him was ‘When are you coming back? We’re looking forward to you coming back’.
Grieving mum Emma Webber shared Barnaby's last texts (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)“He replied, ‘I’ll be back Thursday or Friday, depending on my hangover’. “I said, ‘You know you’re going to have to get a job to earn some money over the summer to pay for all the things you want to do?’
“His last message was, ‘Yes, yes, ‘eyeroll’. I still have the message but haven’t looked at it for a while. The last time I looked at it was on his birthday. I can’t look at it."
Barnaby and his brother Charlie (Webber Family)The mum also spoke to the Mirror about how hard the last year has been and said there was times she felt about giving up. She said: "The grief is so deep that you cannot see beyond it. I sometimes don’t know how I’m still standing. There have been really dark times where I genuinely haven’t wanted to be here anymore.
Barnaby Webber was murdered alongside his friend Grace O'Malley-Kumar (Webber Family)“There was one day when I just thought, ‘I don’t want to wake up’. I didn’t do anything proactive but I thought about dying. I remember thinking, ‘I actually don’t want to wake up’. I just couldn’t see beyond it.
“There was nothing in particular about that day. I reached out to get help, medical help. I wouldn’t go so far as to say an intervention - I didn’t have people here with white coats on. It was talking to my doctor, talking to Dave, and recognising that I needed to go onto medication.
Ian Coates was also killed (PA)
Barnaby was with Grace when they were stabbed (PA)“I am able to admit that I have reached out to get help for those dark thoughts. I am taking medication and having some more therapy, because without those I don’t know if I would be able to survive. David and Charlie are my everything, they are my family.
“If I wasn’t here for them then that’s another catastrophic loss for them. It would be selfish of me if I wasn’t around anymore. I want to see them smile and laugh again, and we need to heal together, and I need Charlie to have a good life.”
Nottinghamshire Police said: “In accordance with existing [NPCC/IOPC] protocol, Nottinghamshire Police is unable to comment directly on matters which are included in the IOPC’s ongoing independent investigation into complaints raised by the families of Valdo Calocane’s victims.
"This is to avoid possible prejudice to any future potential proceedings and is standard practice which applies to all police forces when cases are under investigation by the IOPC. We are co-operating fully and supporting the IOPC with its enquiries.”
'I heard awful, blood-curdling screams as people were stabbed' in incident
Speaking ahead of today’s vigil, Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “On the morning of 13 June 2023, devastating events took place in our city which resulted in the loss of three innocent lives.
“My thoughts today are with the families and friends of Barnaby, Grace, Ian, and those that were seriously injured. “On behalf of all of us at Nottinghamshire Police, I will be laying a wreath and lighting a candle in the city in their memory and paying my respects, alongside other local civic leaders. We will never forget this tragic loss of life.”
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.