TRIBUTES have been paid to British Indian medical student, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, who was stabbed to death in Nottingham, in June last year.
Her parents and brother said their family's lives had been "shattered in a moment" following the tragic incident.
Grace 'heroically and valiantly' fought that attacker while protecting her friend Barnaby Webber, her father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar said.
A judge on Thursday (25) ordered that Valdo Calocane, 32, who killed Grace and two others, should be detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital. He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Calocane killed university students, Barnaby Webber and Grace, and 65-year-old Ian Coates, before driving into three other people with a van.
At court, Dr Kumar praised his daughter as a courageous individual who chose not to escape.
He told the attacker that she courageously stepped in, emphasising her steadfast commitment to standing by her friends in difficult times, as it was an integral part of her character.
"She heroically and valiantly fought you. Like a hero she put herself in harm's way. But unfortunately because of the weapon you carried she stood no chance," he was quoted as saying.
"You showed yourself to be a cold, cowardly and calculating killer. You casually walked away, leaving my child lying in the street."
Following the sentencing, Dr Kumar, said his daughter would be disappointed with the way the case had concluded.
"Grace's last moments were in pain and that's something that really hurts me to think about and she was a hero, that was her character," Her brother, James, 17, was quoted as saying.
He added, "She exerted maximum effort to rescue her friend, and unfortunately, it led to Grace losing her life in a vulnerable situation. Her unwavering commitment to never abandon a friend was evident in her final moments. She passed fighting."
Her mother, Sinead O'Malley advocated for compulsory prison sentences for individuals found with knives.
She said Calocane's 'disgusting cowardice' diminished in comparison to 'the unmatched heroism' displayed by Grace.
She said: "I'm so proud of the person she was. She was a wonderful friend. She always stood up for her friends and she paid the ultimate price with her life. I remain immensely proud of her bravery."
Families of the victims also slammed the police following the verdict, adding that 'true justice has not been served'.
Nottingham Police admitted this week that it "should have done more" to arrest Calocane before the attacks in the wake of an alleged assault on a police officer.
Webber's mother Emma said that "true justice has not been served", and claimed that prosecutors had "railroaded" families over accepting the manslaughter plea, rather than murder.
She also said Nottinghamshire Police had "blood on your hands".
"If you had just done your jobs properly, there's a very good chance my beautiful boy would be alive today," she said.
"There is so much more to say and clearly serious questions regarding this case and events leading up to this monster being out in society."
The families of Grace and Webber have established foundations in their memory to ensure a lasting legacy. They have initiated online appeals to support causes that were important to the students.
Grace was the first ladies’ county cricketer in school and pushed the boundaries of ladies’ cricket at Bancroft’s School, according to her foundation website.
She represented England at U16 and U18s hockey and later played in the premiership for Nottingham University ladies first team and in her first year. She was also part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport 2023 Gold medal winning team.
The BBC on Friday (26) reported that the Attorney General is contemplating whether judges should reevaluate the sentencing of Calocane.
A referral received by the Attorney General's office contends that the sentence for manslaughter, coupled with an indefinite hospital order, was excessively lenient.
Additionally, NHS England will conduct an investigation into his interactions with mental health services.
(with inputs from agencies)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)