Arabic version: تحقيق يكشف عن ألم العائلة بعد حادث الطعن في نوتنغهام
The son of a school caretaker stabbed to death during the Nottingham attacks has told a public inquiry he learned of his father’s death through an Instagram message from a family friend. Ian Coates, 65, was killed by Valdo Calocane, who also murdered two students, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, on 13 June 2023. According to BBC News, James Coates recounted that he received the tragic news via a message from a family friend, even as he and his brother Lee sought information from police.
James and Lee Coates were the first bereaved family members to testify at the Nottingham Inquiry, which is investigating the events surrounding the attacks. They expressed frustration at the lack of communication from authorities, stating they were not informed of their father’s death until about 17:00 BST, shortly before Nottinghamshire Police held a press conference to inform the public.
The inquiry revealed that Ian’s body remained at the crime scene for 15 hours before being removed. The Coates brothers highlighted their feelings of being treated as an afterthought by police, noting they were unaware of a vigil organized by Nottingham City Council until informed by a journalist.
James criticized the victim support services provided to their family, stating that they were not offered any therapy until nine months after the tragedy. He described the support as inadequate, recalling that the therapy offered was conducted in a yoga studio, which he felt was inappropriate given the circumstances. Ian’s partner, Elaine Newton, echoed his sentiments, expressing frustration at the police’s handling of the situation and the conflicting information she received regarding her partner’s death.
The inquiry continues to examine the events leading up to the attacks, including Calocane’s mental health and his prior care under the NHS. Elaine voiced her loss of faith in the healthcare system following revelations about Calocane’s treatment leading up to the tragic events.
