Families of Nottingham attack welcome murder review

The families of three people killed in the Nottingham attacks have welcomed a move to review manslaughter laws and the sentencing framework for murder.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by Waldo Caloocan in June 2023.

Caloocan, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was ordered to hospital in January for murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The Law Commission announced on Friday that it had accepted Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood’s request to begin the review in early 2025.

The independent body, which recommends if the law needs reform, has agreed to revisit and update an 18-year-old report on suggested changes to homicide law.

The report, published in 2006, called on the government to consider changing murder, which is currently classified into two levels of murder and manslaughter, into three levels – first-degree murder, second-degree murder, Murder and killing.

Following a request by the Lord Chancellor, the body will now consider wider issues relating to murder punishment, looking at how murder is classified and the impact of diminished responsibility.

“Changes in law and society have made a new review particularly timely,” the Commission said.

The victims’ families had previously called for changes to homicide laws, with Mr Webber’s mother Emma saying “murderers will get away with murder”.

A joint statement on behalf of the families welcomed news of the review, saying: “Our laws, practices and processes are failing, flawed and outdated.

“If our laws had been changed, as was first proposed nearly 20 years ago, (then) the results would have been very different.

“As this situation stands, we are forced to endure the additional trauma in the knowledge that this individual, as well as receiving full benefits, may very well be released back into our community.”

Professor Penny Lewis, Commissioner of Criminal Law, said: “I am delighted that the Lord Chancellor has asked us to undertake this review and re-look at manslaughter law.

“The public is concerned that murders are correctly classified, for example as murder or homicide, and given appropriate punishment.

“We will review the crimes and defenses of homicide and the punishment for murder to ensure that the homicide regime operates fairly and justly.”

In a letter to families, Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims of Violence Against Women and Girls, said the review would consider issues raised by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), which takes into account The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) handled the case.

HMCPSI Report Urged the government to consider making changes to homicide laws, and revealed that families said police led them to believe the attacks were “a clear case of murder”.

Inspectors concluded that prosecutors were right to accept the homicide pleas, but that they could have handled the case better.

Caloocan stabbed Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar to death in Ilkeston Road, then later murdered Mr Coates in Magdala Road.

A court heard he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks.

On 28 November 2023, the 32-year-old man pleaded guilty to murder charges and three counts of attempted murder.

The CPS announced on January 23 that it had accepted the plea deal on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and a few days later he was sentenced to a hospital order.

A detailed timeline for the review will be published in the new year and findings will be presented to the Lord Chancellor in spring 2025.