The mother of a student who tragically lost her life to a stabbing incident is advocating for mandatory prison terms for carrying knives. Sinead O’Malley and Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, parents of the late Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who was killed in Nottingham last year, emphasized the urgent need for a significant deterrent against knife use and called upon the government to thoroughly examine the issue.
Grace, along with her friends Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates, fell victim to the fatal attacks by Valdo Calocane. Calocane’s guilty pleas to manslaughter, based on diminished responsibility, were accepted by the court. The court learned that Grace was killed while heroically attempting to protect Mr. Webber during their walk home from a night out.
In an emotional interview with BBC’s Breakfast, Ms. O’Malley, a consultant anesthetist, equated carrying a knife to carrying a gun, emphasizing the severity of the issue. Dr. Kumar, a GP, referred to knife crime in England as an “epidemic” and criticized the existing legislation as appearing “easy-going.”
Grace’s younger brother, James, echoed his parents’ call for action, expressing concern that it seems easier to access a knife than alcohol. He established a foundation in his sister’s name to support causes she championed and ensure her enduring memory.
Presently, there is no minimum sentence for a first-time offender caught carrying a knife. The imposition of a prison sentence depends on factors such as culpability, harm, and aggravating or mitigating circumstances. For individuals aged over 18, a minimum six-month custody sentence applies for those caught with a knife previously, while for 16 and 17-year-olds, it is a four-month detention order.
Ms. O’Malley-Kumar’s parents paid tribute to their daughter, highlighting her joy in studying medicine at the University of Nottingham. Dr. Kumar expressed the heartbreak of missing out on Grace’s future milestones. Ms. O’Malley shared her profound grief and revealed a tattoo of her daughter’s name on her wrist, replicating the signature from a birthday card when Grace was 16.
Grace, who aspired to be a doctor like her parents, administered numerous Covid vaccinations and excelled in sports like cricket and hockey. Calocane, admitting to three counts of manslaughter and attempted murder, denies murder on mental health grounds.
In court, Dr. Kumar praised his daughter’s bravery but underscored the devastating impact of the weapon used, branding Calocane a “cold, cowardly, and calculating killer.” The sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court is ongoing.