The mother of one of the victims slain by triple murderer Valdo Calocane has slammed a BBC Panorama documentary about the Nottingham killings as “shameful, cold, ill-judged”. Emma Webber expressed her disapproval of the programme which delved into the mental health history of her son Barnaby’s killer and questioned “what lessons can be learned” from the tragic events.
University students Barnaby and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, along with 65 year old school caretaker Ian Coates, were fatally stabbed by Calocane in Nottingham on June 13, 2023. The contentious Panorama episode, aired last month and titled ‘The Nottingham Attacks: A Search For Answers’, included interviews with Calocane’s family to explore “shed light on the missed opportunities in his care”, as per the show’s description.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Barnaby’s mother Emma criticised the broadcast, saying: “We believe what the BBC produced is a very imbalanced documentary – it’s shameful, cold, ill-judged, arrogant and thoughtless.
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Victims’ families have lodged a formal complaint with the BBC, claiming the episode contained “inaccuracies, was too sympathetic towards the knifeman’s family and they were refused a preview screening”, the newspaper reports. Ms Webber further stated: “We were not considered or consulted at any point to advise that this was being made.”
Neil Hudgell, the families’ solicitor, told the Sunday Mirror: “They were told as a ‘fait accompli’ when the piece was airing, they had no opportunity to be involved.”
“Had they been consulted they could have pointed out some obvious factual errors.”
“They believe they were excluded so the programme could promote the narrative that the Calocane family were victims too.”
“They were not afforded an early viewing and were caused considerable additional anxiety in the run-up to it airing, having to speculate on what it may or may not cover. Their fears were confirmed.”
“They have no interest in compensation, this is about proper accountability based on fair, proper and accurate reporting. It is about setting the record straight.”
Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order earlier this year. He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Relatives of Calocane’s victims reacted angrily to the sentencing after prosecutors decided not to pursue murder charges.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We have the deepest sympathy for the families, and the Panorama team has been extremely mindful of the sensitivities in handling this programme. ” “They have been in contact with the bereaved families to tell them about the programme and to provide details of its editorial focus.”
“This investigation, which is very much in the public interest, examines the decline in the mental health of Valdo Calocane and asks whether there were systemic failings in his interactions with mental health services in the three years leading up to the terrible events in Nottingham last year.”
“The documentary has been produced in accordance with the BBC’s editorial guidelines.”
They further stated: “Any complaints will be looked at according to our complaints procedure.”
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