Body of Father Remained at Attack Scene for 15 Hours
The body of a school caretaker who was fatally stabbed during the Nottingham attacks was left inside a police cordon for 15 hours, a public inquiry has disclosed.
Valdo Calocane stabbed to death 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old Ian Coates, and attempted to kill three others during a series of attacks in Nottingham on 13 June 2023.
Police arrived at Magdala Road, where Ian had been killed, at approximately 05:40 BST, but his body remained at the crime scene until 20:30 that evening.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin of Nottinghamshire Police described the situation as "awful" and expressed that he could not imagine the distress caused to Ian's family.
Griffin, who was assistant chief constable at the time and assumed the role of "gold commander"—the senior officer with overall strategic command—on the day of the attacks, provided evidence to the inquiry on Monday.
Inquiry Examines Response and Timeline
The Nottingham Inquiry, chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC and held in London, is investigating the events leading up to the attacks and the subsequent response.
Griffin stated he only became aware that Ian's body had been left at Magdala Road for 15 hours shortly before giving his testimony, during the preceding weekend.
On the day of the attacks, Calocane first stabbed Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar at about 04:00 on Ilkeston Road.
He then walked nearly two miles towards Mapperley Road and subsequently to Magdala Road, where he killed Ian Coates at 05:14.
Following this, Calocane took Ian's van and drove into the city centre, where he struck the survivors of the attacks—Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller, and Wayne Gawronski.
Police arrived at Magdala Road at 05:39, having been alerted by a witness shortly before their arrival.
Inquiry Questions Delay in Removing Body
During questioning by Tim Moloney KC, the barrister representing the bereaved families, Griffin acknowledged the length of time Ian's body remained at the scene.
"It does seem like a long time. And for Ian's family, that is particularly traumatic."
At this point in the hearing, Darren Coates, one of Ian's sons, muttered, "damn right."
"I have to trust those who say that that amount of time was necessary in order to ensure that all forensic opportunity was maximised," Griffin added, noting he could not provide further details.
The inquiry also heard that a forensic tent to cover Ian's body did not arrive at Magdala Road until 07:55.
"Until then, he lay in the street with a blanket or blankets over him," Moloney stated.
When asked if he could imagine the distress this caused the families, Griffin responded:
"I actually can't imagine it, it's awful."
He further noted that he did not have sufficient detail about the circumstances to explain why Ian's body had to remain at the scene for such an extended period.
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