Latest news with #WayneBirkett
ITV News
22-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Nottingham attacks: Two survivors rally for support ahead of inquiry
Two of the three survivors of the 2023 Nottingham attacks have welcomed the publication of the Terms of Reference that will shape the upcoming Nottingham inquiry. Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller were both seriously injured in the attack which left them with life-changing injuries. Today they have written to a group of Nottingham MPs and the Mayor to ask for a meeting to discuss how they can foster local engagement with the Inquiry, and ensure that recommendations arising from it are implemented. What is the Terms of Reference in the Nottingham Inquiry The government's announcement today (May 22) is that prosecutors, police and medical professionals will be scrutinised by a two-year public inquiry into the fatal Nottingham attacks. The Terms of Reference has been submitted by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to the chair of the inquiry, outlining a comprehensive list of events. It also pulls together the interactions between the various agencies (including health, policing and the wider criminal justice system) involved. This is designed to give the inquiry Chair more scope to evaluate what could have been done differently. What have the survivors said? Survivor Sharon Millar has said: 'We want to understand how someone with paranoid schizophrenia, who had previously been hospitalised because of his condition, was able to get away with not taking his medication just because he claimed to be scared of needles. "He was known to the police too. Why weren't they able to stop him? The Inquiry will uncover the truth about all the missed opportunities to stop him, and what needs to be done to prevent something as appalling as this from happening again. Not a day goes by where I don't think about what he did to Grace, Barnaby, and Ian.' Fellow survivor, Wayne Birkett says 'The whole system feels broken. From the lack of money to fund mental health services, to the broken lines of communication between all the organisations who had contact with Calocane. "The government needs to make sure that there is enough money and resources available to make the changes needed to protect the people of Nottingham.' What do we know about the Nottingham inquiry? Valdo Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. The inquiry aims to report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said. Witnesses from Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could be compelled to give evidence, the Government said on Thursday. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously prepared a report which concluded that officers failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane which could have stopped his murder spree a month later. Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder – something which has been widely criticised by the victims' families. The MoJ said the management of Calocane's risk to others in the lead-up to the attacks and public servants accessing information without authorisation will form part of the inquiry. The victims' families previously said claims that healthcare staff illegally accessed medical records belonging to their loved ones were 'sickening' and 'inexcusable'. Three Nottinghamshire Police officers also faced disciplinary action for viewing material about the case without any legitimate reason, and there have been alleged data breaches by staff working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Emergency services staff who responded to the attacks will also be scrutinised by the inquiry as part of a 'detailed examination' of events on the day of the killings. Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who jailed former tennis star Boris Becker after he avoided paying his debts, will chair the inquiry. What else are people saying about the Inquiry? Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: 'The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen. 'I am pleased this inquiry is now under way and I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again.' Greg Almond, Solicitor and Partner at Rothera Bray. 'It's crucial that Nottingham's leaders remain actively involved both during and after the Inquiry concludes to ensure there is never a repeat of an attack of this nature. "The proper implementation of the Inquiry's recommendations will require effective leadership and investment, something that has not yet been spoken about."
BBC News
10-05-2025
- BBC News
Nottingham attacks victim's father 'united' with survivors
The father of a student killed in the Nottingham attacks has said the survivors also deserve answers from a public inquiry into what Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski were all seriously injured after Valdo Calocane hit them with a stolen van in the city centre on 13 June that morning, he fatally stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, father, Sanjoy Kumar, described the pedestrians as "living victims" and said everyone affected by the attacks was "united" ahead of a judge-led public inquiry announced earlier in the year. Dr Kumar's comments came after Ms Miller, 46, and Mr Birkett, 61, shared their stories for the first time and explained how they feel a strong sense of survivor's guilt. Mr Birkett said: "I would have swapped my life for one of those poor students - without a doubt."It was awful hearing what happened to them [in the court case]. What happened to me was nothing compared to that."While Ms Miller added: "When I heard what had happened to Barnaby or Grace, I thought, 'I wish he'd took me instead of them'."They were so young and still had their lives ahead of them - you just feel so guilty." Dr Kumar said: "We all within this process have a sense of guilt."I wasn't there on the night to protect my daughter. There are all kinds of complex emotions from everyone who's involved in this case."The families all suffer from a whole wide range of post-traumatic stress disorder and one of the characteristics is guilt."Our friends also suffer with guilt and feelings like survivors do - it's really quite amazing how far-reaching the feelings of despair are."We are united in trying to find why these preventable attacks happened." Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia before the attacks, was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after admitting three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted case has prompted a number of reviews, including a mental health homicide review commissioned by NHS earlier this year, Ms Miller and Mr Birkett, alongside the families of Mr Webber, Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates, were invited to Downing Street to discuss plans for a judge-led public both plan to engage fully with the inquiry, set to be chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, and hope it will provide answers that lead to meaningful changes to help prevent similar incidents in the Kumar said: "Our children shouldn't have died, there were failures across the system that were preventable."We are going to make sure that this inquiry is as wide-reaching as possible."
The Independent
09-05-2025
- The Independent
Nottingham attack survivors speak out for the first time
Two survivors of the Nottingham attacks have revealed they feel a strong sense of survivor's guilt as they share their stories for the first time. Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller - along with Marcin Gawronski - were struck by a van driven by Valdo Calocane on the morning of 13 June 2023, which left all three pedestrians seriously injured. Earlier that day, Calocane had already fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65. Ms Miller told the BBC: 'When I heard what had happened to Barnaby or Grace, I thought, I wish he'd took me instead of them'. 'They were so young and still had their lives ahead of them - you just feel so guilty', she added. 'You should be able to go to work, and they should be able to walk around; Ian should have been able to get into his van and go to work. 'It's just so wrong.' Mr Birkett said his partner Tracey told him off for saying 'I would have swapped my life for one of those poor students - without a doubt.' "It was awful hearing what happened to them [in the court case]. What happened to me was nothing compared to that." Ms Miller suffered a broken toe, lacerated spleen and a hole in the back of her leg because of the incident. She had started her day at home with her partner of 30 years, Martin. The mother-of-one finished a cup of tea and made her way to the bus stop shortly before 5am where she was commuting to her job as a cleaner. She said her bus was delayed and she was worried she'd be late for her shift. Her day swiftly ended not long after she got off the bus in the city centre and crossed Market Street, when the van hit her. 'I saw the van, and the next minute I'm in the air', she said. 'I thought I was dying - all I could see was white.' Ms Miller was rushed to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre with life-changing injuries. She has been unable to return to work after suffering suffering serious orthopaedic and psychological trauma, and requires a walking stick. "I'm still in a lot of pain with my leg and my back, but I'm getting there," she said. As well as not being able to return to work, Ms Miller now only feels safe in the comfort of her own home, having previously been a sociable person who enjoyed trips out with friends and family. "Martin and my family, and my grandkids make me happy, but I don't like going out," Sharon explained. "I was never like that before." Mr Birkett had also been on his way to work as a forklift driver when Calocane swerved across the road and drive into the back of him, causing the 61-year-old to spend more than six weeks in hospital with complex brain and physical injuries. Not only did he share he has no recollection of what happened, but he struggles to remember any part of his life prior to that day, according to the BBC. He has had to re-learn basic skills, such as reading, crushing his teeth and holding a knife and fork. He couldn't even remember what the tattoo dedicated to Leeds United meant to him. His partner Tracey has had to care for him since his attack. He said: 'My legs hurt all the time, my back hurts, I get headaches all the time and it's horrible not having any memory and not remembering people you've known and worked for.' Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia prior to the attacks, admitted to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024. Earlier this year, Mr Birkett and Ms Miller were invited to Downing Street, alongside the families of Mr Webber, Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates, to discuss plans for a judge-led inquiry, set to be chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor. The case has prompted a number of reviews, including a mental health homicide review, commissioned by NHS England.
Sky News
09-05-2025
- Sky News
Nottingham attacks survivor wishes killer Valdo Calocane 'had taken me instead'
Survivors of the Nottingham attacks have spoken for the first time about the devastating effect on their lives - with one saying she wishes she'd died instead of the two students. Sharon Miller and Wayne Birkett were among three people who survived when Valdo Calocane ploughed into them with a van he'd stolen from 65-year-old Ian Coates, after stabbing him to death. Calocane had already killed Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber as they walked home in June 2023. They were just 19. "I thought I was dying. I just wish he had taken me instead of the students," said Sharon of the teenagers, who had "their whole lives ahead of them". Sharon, 46, was on her way to her cleaning job when Calocane used the van as a weapon. She has been unable to work since and rarely leaves the house. "You should be able to go to work and they should be able to walk out from wherever they was, and Ian should have been able to go in his van and go to work. It's just wrong," she said. Wayne, a former forklift driver, was catapulted into the air and left in a coma when he was hit from behind. "My legs hurt all the time, my back hurts, my head - painful, headaches all the time," he said. "It's horrible not having no memory, not remembering people you have known and worked for." The 61-year-old has also been unable to return to work and has even had to learn to read and write again - but he's pleased he's at least escaped the nightmares. "I feel lucky because the other two people he ran over saw what happened. He hit me from behind. I don't remember it," said Wayne. Wayne and Sharon were speaking in an interview with BBC East Midlands. Calocane admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year. It prompted fury that he was not convicted of murder. Experts had said his schizophrenia meant he was not fully responsible for his actions, and since then a long list of missed opportunities to prevent him committing his crimes has emerged. "He should be in prison," said Sharon. "He should have been forced to have had his medication." Wayne and Sharon both welcomed the announcement last month of a public inquiry, which the justice secretary said must be "thorough in its assessment of the facts and unsparing in its recommendations". Both want to have their voices heard, according to their lawyer. "They don't want to be forgotten about," said Greg Almond, of Rothera Bray solicitors. "Understandably, they have been concentrating on their rehabilitation, but I think they want answers to the questions that they have got, which are numerous; and they want to find out what's going to change in the future so that this doesn't happen again." That, for both the bereaved and survivors, it seems, is the key - the need for what follows the inquiry's conclusions to be more than just words.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Nottingham attack survivor speaks for the first time and says she wishes triple killer Valdo Calocane 'had taken me instead'
A survivor of the Nottingham attacks that left three dead - including two undergraduates - has spoken publicly for the first time, saying she wishes killer Valdo Calocane 'had taken me instead of the students'. Sharon Miller was one of three pedestrians mown down by a van driven by the paranoid schizophrenic after he had fatally stabbed University of Nottingham students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates. Ms Miller today joins fellow survivor Wayne Birkett in speaking out about the attacks – and their feelings towards Calocane – for the first time. In an interview with the BBC, Ms Miller describes how the orthopaedic and psychological injuries she suffered in the attack have left her unable to return to her job as a commercial cleaner – having rarely had a day off sick during 27 years in the workplace. The 46-year-old continues to undergo rehabilitation and now walks with a stick. Calocane, now 33, spent hours stalking the streets before knifing friends Grace and Barnaby, both 19, as they walked back to their halls of residence after a night out in June 2023. He then ambushed grandfather Mr Coates as the 65-year-old drove to work, going on to use his van as a weapon to mow down first Mr Birkett and then Ms Miller and factory worker Marcin Gawronski, 42. Ms Miller says that, unlike Mr Birkett, she remembers the van ploughing into her at the junction of Parliament Street and Market Street, saying: 'I thought I was dying. I just wish he had taken me instead of the students.' Ms Miller, from east Nottingham, finds it difficult to still see Calocane's face in the news, saying: 'He should be in prison. He should have been forced to have had his medication.' In February an independent report revealed Calocane had no contact with mental health services or his GP for about nine months leading up to the killings – after he was discharged when he repeatedly failed to engage with medics. The triple killer was not forced to take his anti-psychotic medication in part because he did not like needles, the review of his NHS care revealed amongst a catalogue of failings. Ms Miller describes herself as being a 'different Sharon' since the attacks and now relies on her partner of 33 years, Martin, to be her carer. Ms Miller said the couple's plans to marry have now been put on hold. In the exclusive interview with BBC East Midlands Today, both Ms Miller and Mr Birkett say they wish it was them that Calocane had killed, rather than Barnaby and Grace who had 'their whole lives ahead of them'. Mr Birkett, then a forklift truck driver, had just stepped off a bus when he was struck from behind by Calocane – a Nottingham graduate who was originally from Pembrokeshire - and catapulted into the air. The 61-year-old sustained life-threatening and life-changing injuries, including a head injury which placed him in a coma. He also suffered multiple orthopaedic injuries including fractures to his shoulder and legs and still suffers from poor memory, headaches and dizziness. He has no memory of the attack, or real recollection of what life was like before the accident, struggling even to recall events from the previous day. 'People who I've known for 40-50 years have to explain who they are', he said. 'It's embarrassing and frustrating. I've had to relearn how to read, write and even use the television.' But he adds in the interview: 'I feel lucky, because the other two people who got run over saw what happened'. But while he said that meant he didn't suffer nightmares about the incident, he said he hasn't had a dream since the incident either. 'I haven't dreamt about anything, not once', he says. Mr Birkett credits his partner, Tracey, with 'saving my life', adding: 'It's Tracey that keeps me going.' Last month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the forthcoming public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks would be chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, a retired crown court judge. Mr Birkett, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, and Mrs Miller hope the inquiry will deliver answers as to why Calocane was left free to roam the streets despite multiple encounters with police, university officials and healthcare professionals in the years leading up to his rampage. The killer had been sectioned four times, come to the attention of police over acts of aggression – some involving other undergraduates in Nottingham – and had been wanted for nine months after he failed to attend court in September 2022 over an alleged assault on a police officer. A month before the killings he was reported to Leicestershire Police after he attacked two employees at a warehouse in Kegworth – the force's response to that report is currently the subject of an Independent Office of Police Conduct investigation. Ms Miller said: 'We seek to understand how someone with paranoid schizophrenia - who had been detained multiple times under mental health provisions, faced allegations of physical assault requiring police involvement, and consistently refused medical treatment for his condition - was able to commit such an atrocity. 'We call for a coordinated approach among agencies to ensure accountability and lasting change.' Mr Birkett added. 'The government needs to ensure sufficient resources moving forward for these trusted institutions to improve, including better mental health provisions, improved justice facilities (such as appropriate court buildings), and a more transparent East Midlands police function. 'As survivors, answers and recognition is essential for our journey toward closure.' The two survivors and their lawyer, Greg Almond, have met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the public inquiry and share their experiences. Mr Almond, a partner and Head of Serious Injury at Rothera Bray Solicitors, said: 'What became clear after the attack is that, unlike Manchester, Birmingham, or London, Nottingham lacks a high-profile advocate for the city. 'Along with the other families we've had to campaign and lobby intensely to secure an inquiry on behalf of Wayne and Sharon. 'Considering the number of agencies and official bodies that came into contact with Calocane, we would have expected an inquiry to be announced much earlier by the previous government. 'A significant number of fundamental questions remain unanswered about how he was able to carry out the attack from which lessons must be learnt, and changes implemented if the public's trust is to be resorted in Nottingham's institutions.' Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. Mr Justice Turner said told the killer he would be detained in a high-security hospital 'very probably for the rest of your life'.
