16 June 2023 , 11:03
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The devastated family of Nottingham victim Barnaby Webber was already grieving the loss of his grandfather.
The 19-year-old's life was cut short early Tuesday morning when he was stabbed to death alongside Grace Kumar.
His family had already been grieving the loss of his paternal grandfather who died just weeks earlier.
Barnaby's dad David took to social media to pay tribute to him earlier this month.
The dad-of-two wrote: "Sleep well Dad, everyone did you proud yesterday and a glass of beer (or two) were drunk in your honour."
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Yesterday, Barnaby's devastated mum Emma told 5,000 people in Old Market Square to “hold no hate” as she paid tribute to her son.
Barnaby Webber was killed on Tuesday morning in Nottingham (PA)
Barnaby's brother at last night's vigil (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The family of school caretaker Ian Coates, who was stabbed to death in the attack as he drove to work, also attended the vigil.
Emma, from Taunton, Somerset, described her son’s killer as a “monstrous individual” - but bravely said, “he will not define us”.
She added: “I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves.
"However, this evil person is just that. He is just a person.
“Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.”
The family of Barnaby Webber speak during a vigil held in Old Market Square, Nottingham city centre (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)Nottingham fell silent for one minute at 6pm, with thousands gathering in the city’s main square.
Emma was accompanied by her husband, who placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder, and their son Charlie.
She said: “We stand here and we feel your love. We are united in grief and shock and disbelief.
“One day we will smile again, but it will take time.
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Ian Coates was the third victim of the Nottingham attack (Miro Photography)
Grace Juma was killed alongside Barnaby (Nottinghamshire Police)“Barney is more than a victim of a senseless murder. He loved pesto pasta but hated cottage pie.
“He was obsessed with aeroplanes and he still carried a dream of being a pilot in the RAF one day.”
Addressing Barnaby directly, she said: “My beautiful, beautiful boy. You have mine, your dad and your brother’s heart forever.”
Emma embraced Grace’s mum Sinead before she gave an equally heart-wrenching speech.
Sinead, accompanied by her husband Sanjoy, described her daughter as her “treasure”.
The family of Ian Coates pictured after speaking at a vigil held in Old Market Square, Nottingham city centre (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)“My beautiful baby girl wasn’t just beautiful on the outside, you must have seen her pictures, she was so beautiful on the inside,” she said.
“She wanted very few things in life, she wanted to be a doctor, she wanted to play hockey with her pals, she wanted to have fun.
“All they were doing was walking home, just walking home after a night-out.
“It just is truly so unfair but I’ll echo what my husband said - be kind to each other, look after each other, don’t have hate in your hearts.
The family of Grace Kumar at last night's vigil (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)“Say prayers for my baby girl.
“The magnitude of the grief here reflects the magnitude of the love, the love we had for her.”
Ian Coates’ devastated son James promised support to the families of Grace and Barnaby.
Wearing a shirt of his beloved Nottingham Forest, he thanked everybody for the “kind words” that have poured in about his father.
Detectives are continuing to quiz Valdo Amissão Mendes Calocane, 31, over the three murders.
He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the same university as the tragic Grace and Barnaby less than a year ago.
University bosses said they were “devastated” to learn the suspect in the gruesome slayings was a former student.
Police do not believe the fact he graduated from the same university Grace and Barnaby attended is relevant to the attack.
Detectives were granted a further 36 hours to question Calocane after applying to magistrates for an extension on Wednesday.