Nottingham victim’s ‘heroic’ final moments trying to save pal revealed – as killer Valdo Calocane could die behind bars

A KNIFE victim's "heroic" final moments were revealed today after she tried to save her pal in a triple killing - as their attacker faces dying behind bars.

Valdo Calocane stabbed Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both aged 19, and 65-year-old Ian Coates to death in a brutal rampage.

The 32-year-old then called his brother and told him: "This will be the last time I speak to you. Take the family out of the country."

When asked if he was going to do something stupid, Calocane replied: "It is already done".

Nottingham Crown Court was told Calocane was suffering from "extreme" mental illness at the time, including paranoid schizophrenia.

He now faces an indefinite hospital order or a jail sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Prosecutors today accepted his plea - meaning Calocane will not stand trial for murder.

Family members wept as the court was told how the horror unfolded on June 13 last year.

Grace and Barnaby were walking home after an end-of-term night out when they were pounced on by Calocane, who had been lying in wait for a victim.

'DELIBERATE AND MERCILESS'

Barnaby suffered "grave injuries" after he was stabbed "repeatedly" with a dagger that the killer pulled from his bag.

As he collapsed to the floor, Grace showed "incredible bravery" by attempting to save him by fighting the killer off.

She managed to push Calocane into the road but this led him to turn his attention to her, the court was told.

The killer was then "as uncompromisingly brutal in his assault of Grace as he was in his assault of Barnaby" and she collapsed while Barnaby tried to defend himself from the ground.

After knifing both students, Calocane then "calmly" walked away - leaving the pair just 300 yards from their halls of residence with "unsurvivable" injuries.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said the "brutal" attack was captured from a taxi's dashcam.

He added: "That footage shows that the devastating violence of the attacks was mirrored only by the deliberate and merciless way the defendant acted."

Once he killed Grace and Barnaby, rampaging Calocane attempted to break into a home but was punched in the face by a stunned occupant.

Undeterred, he made his way to Magdala Road where he came across caretaker Ian.

After stabbing the dad to death, Calocane stole his van and used it to ram the three pedestrians.

The triple killer previously admitted the attempted murders of Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett, who were injured by the vehicle.

'HER LAST MOMENTS WERE IN PAIN'

Grace's family today wept as they praised the "hero" student, who wanted to be a doctor like her dad.

Her brother James, 17, told : "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.

"She tried her best to save her friend. That was how Grace lost her life in the most vulnerable manner.

"She would never leave a friend, never, and that was very evident from her last moments. She passed fighting."

James also told how would "never forgive" Calocane for killing Grace and branded her the "best sister I could have asked for".

Dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar said the family were hoping Calocane would face a murder trial but said they have "faith in the legal system".

He also called for tougher action on the knife crime "epidemic" and has set up a in her memory.

The dad added: "It's been a brutal journey since June, I don't think my poor wife has slept a night amid many tears. It's been a very sad time."

Meanwhile, Barnaby's mum Emma Webber told the court today how she wears a lock of her son's hair around her neck each day.

She said: "Barney did not lose his life in June 13, it was taken from him. Stolen in the most vicious, unprovoked, senseless and evil way imaginable, murdered by a monster who sits in this court today."

His dad David also vowed to keep fighting for justice for his son, who was a history student and keen cricketer.

Ian's son James stared straight at Calocane, telling him: "Mine is only short so I hope you're listening Valdo?

"Our dad was only five months away from retirement and was on his way to work when he was brutally murdered, a senseless killing and a life taken with no remorse.

"He had plans to carry out what he loved in his retirement, years of fishing. But a selfish monster decided to go on a killing spree."

Calocane will be sentenced tomorrow.