Was Nottingham’s triple killing the tragic cost of vital services in tatters? | UK News
The senseless killing of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates, have left many questioning whether the right course of action was taken in the treatment and sentencing of their killer.
While Barnaby’s mother Emma believes it was a tragedy that could have been avoided on many levels, others feel that far more needs to be done to tackle knife crime.
Here, Metro readers share their thoughts.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
‘Probably’ never be let out? Is this true justice?
Families of the victims of knife-killer Valdo Calocane united in anger over his soft sentence and failures that let him cause carnage, saying: ‘True justice has not been served’ (Metro, Fri).
A judge told Calocane 32, he will go to a secure hospital and ‘probably’ never be let out. Prosecutors accepted a manslaughter plea due to diminished responsibility because of paranoid schizophrenia.
I feel for the families of victims Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates. I agree with the families’ decision to ask the attorney-general to consider referring the matter to the Court of Appeal.
However, if the matter is referred to the appeal court, there is no guarantee it will hear the case. Even if it does, there is no guarantee the sentence will be altered.
I do hope our politicians will not make politics out of this case and that Alex Chalk – the lord chancellor – will seek to apply the law.
The families should see redress with Nottinghamshire Police and the local NHS who, in my view, are the ones to have let them down badly.
Andrew Edwards, North London
What can be done about knife crime?
We need tougher sentencing for violent crimes. No more early parole. If you harm someone or walk around with a weapon, there should be a mandatory minimum sentence.
Schools need to do more in personal, social, health and economic education lessons. More often than not, it’s the younger generation that are doing this. Jaweh, Croydon
What a joke the justice system is in this country. This vile piece of scum has literally got away with murder – three innocent lives cut short and another three traumatised by almost being run down.
The courts have again been too lenient and the victims’ families are the ones doing the life sentence now. G Bates, Birmingham
Having read very sad reports of yet more stabbings, I wonder about the relevance of referencing the type or style of knife.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to ‘get a grip’ on knife crime and an urgent crackdown on the availability of zombie-style knives and machetes.
If that were to happen, what would stop anyone going to their kitchen or toolbox and grabbing a knife or long screwdriver ? Both of which would inflict the same serious or fatal injuries as any ‘specialist’ weapon might if used in anger. Del, Croydon
The biggest issue around the use of knives is the lack of strong father figures who show young boys right from wrong. Tom, Greenwich
Are we totally unprepared for a World War III?
Regarding the letters (MetroTalk, Fri) about the head of the Army, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, warning that men and women should prepare to be called up to fight a war against Russia, I totally agree with the idea of conscription.
There is no doubt something very big is brewing right now with Russia.
Vladimir Putin would not be putting so much on the line if he did not have far bigger plans in store for Europe. Let us not forget, he was once part of the old KGB.
The UK was caught with its pants down, and totally unprepared for World War II.
The whole of Europe was caught off-guard and nothing but death and destruction followed for six years. The very same pattern seems to be occurring again.
We must begin to prepare for yet another possible world war. It is way better to be ready for the worst than dilly-dally with politicians trying to put a lid on everything as if they have it all under control and can foresee the future. Brandon Caldwell, Roehampton
Could national service enrich us?
I have long been a supporter of reintroducing national service. This could be military, healthcare, social care or another community-based service.
It would help our young communities appreciate their freedom and privileges, turn children into adults, equip them for life in the real world and help cement our communities and societies together. Andy, Oakham
‘If it happens, it won’t be my son’
My son is 14, so in two years he would probably be viewed as ready to join any citizen army.
Dear politicians and army leaders, I will never send my son to war. I would rather live in the forest with him hiding.
Please, do send your own children to war to give example to others. Why its always other people’s children and never your own? I will wait for your sacrifice for your country. Mother, London
Why not conscript the politicians who support conscription, rather than overwhelmingly working-class youth? Phil Brand, London
All this warmongering. Blessed are the peacemakers. G Bailey, Enfield
Do our politicians ‘get off’ on swearing?
Like Chris of Stockport (MetroTalk, Mon), I was taught that cursing was a sign of a somewhat lesser education.
I left school in 1970, aged 17. I was born off the Old Kent Road, in London, and didn’t have the option to go to uni. I’m sort of a cockney and can curse with the best of ‘em, if I choose to, but I know when to and when not to.
Nothing makes me laugh more than a legal eagle in a court room, or at a public inquiry, reading out something a bit rich because they have to, as with Nicola Sturgeon and her cronies’ expletive-riddled messages to each other we heard at the Covid Inquiry.
Our well-educated, our politicians and our celebrities, curse, because they choose to, and because they think it makes ‘em cool, or maybe they ‘get off’ on it. Les, Forest Hill
Graffiti at the top, love for the Traitors and extortionate property prices
I just read about the Glasgow family on Mt Everest (Metro, Mon) and the thing that struck me was the picture shown with the graffiti all over the rocks at base camp.
I don’t care who did it but it just shows some people have no respect for anything. Paul, Manchester
What a brilliant series the Traitors was on the BBC.
If they create these sorts of programmes, they will get more viewers.
The TV licence fee was well spent here. Thank you BBC! Martin, Nottingham
Chef AJ Shehata (Metro Property, Tue) loves living by the river at Imperial Wharf in London. His first property in Chelsea Creek must have cost him over £800,000.
[He got help from his father.] What world do we live in where a one-bedroom flat costs circa 25 times the average annual wage?
I feel for the younger generation, particularly if they can’t cook! Barry, Folkestone
MORE : Idris Elba stages powerful protest outside Parliament to crack down on ‘heartless’ knife crime
MORE : Man who killed three in rampage ‘will spend rest of his life’ in high security hospital
MORE : The Tories have said 16 times that they’ll crack down knife crime. Where’s the proof?
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