The family of Ian Coates say the news is ‘gut-wrenching’
Darren Coates, James Coates and Lee Coates pay tribute in Magdala Road, Mapperley Park, on the second anniversary of the Nottingham attacks (Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
Nottingham attacks victim Ian Coates was left lying in the road for 15 hours after being killed in a revelation that one of his sons has described as ‘gut-wrenching’.
A senior Nottinghamshire Police boss has admitted the news will be ‘traumatic’ for the family of Mr Coates, especially given the further revelation that the 65-year-old’s body was not covered by a tent for two hours.
An experienced former police officer says the tent issue in particular is ‘unacceptable’, whilst Mr Coates’ youngest son says the police cannot make excuses.
Mr Coates was the third person killed by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane in the early hours of June 13, 2023.
Calocane, who the families of his victims only refer to as ‘VC’, first stabbed 19-year-old University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar.
As well as being a beloved family man and supportive mentor to young people, Ian Coates was also a huge Nottingham Forest fan(Image: Nottinghamshire Police/PA Wire )
The vicious killings are the subject of the ongoing Nottingham Inquiry, examining the failings in both the response to the attacks and the build-up to them.
Lee Coates, Mr Coates’ youngest son, was told by his legal team last week about the news that his father’s body had been left in Magdala Road, Mapperley Park, for 15 hours and he told Nottinghamshire Live: “For over 15 hours on one of the hottest days, he lay there unnecessarily and you can’t say it was because they were understaffed.
“This has become global news at this stage, they brought in resources from everywhere, and Nottingham was on high alert.”
The issue then came up at the Nottingham Inquiry’s hearing on Monday (March 23) during the questioning of Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin, who led the force’s responses to the killings.
Julian Blake KC, counsel to the Nottingham Inquiry, referenced the fact that, having been killed at around 5.15am, the body of Mr Coates was not recovered until around 8.30pm.
Asked by Mr Blake if that was a “very long time”, DCC Griffin replied: “It does seem like a long time.
“And for Ian’s family that is particularly traumatic but given the number of scenes that were being managed at that time, the availability of crime scene varies.
“The approach taken by the crime scene coordinator, the thoroughness with which that scene was managed, I have to trust those who say that that amount of time was necessary in order to ensure that all forensic opportunity was maximised.
“Unfortunately I can’t go any further than that because I haven’t personally investigated every single document that relates to that matter.”
Lee Coates, James Coates and Darren Coates at the vigil for the victims of the Nottingham attacks, in Old Market Square, on June 15, 2023(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)
Michael Brown spent nearly 30 years in the police service and has experience on national policing strategies, particularly on mental health, as well as in shaping guidance for officers and training for police and paramedics.
Now a criminology lecturer at the University of Worcester, Mr Brown has been following the Nottingham Inquiry closely and told Nottinghamshire Live: “I do find it surprising to learn Ian’s body remained unmoved for 15 hours after his death.
“Of course, the police would need to ensure forensic recovery so evidence is preserved and this involves a number of processes including photography, possibly videography, and other kinds of analysis of the scene to maximise what it can offer the investigators.
“We also need to remember the police were faced with a number of serious crime scenes that morning, including for Barney and Grace, which each required similar analysis, and including crime scenes for the non-fatal attacks in the city centre which would have been treated as if the incident could become fatal.
“Nottinghamshire Police will be able to confirm whether the 15-hour delay related to a shortage of suitable crime scene examiners faced with significant demands that morning and to explain whether they sought ‘mutual aid’ from other forces to assist with crime scene examination, or not.
“The body remaining in a public place for such a duration is unusual in my experience – it is normally prioritised and no doubt very difficult for someone’s family to understand and accept.”
Lee Coates added: “I was under the impression it was 8 hours, then I got told 12 hours and now it’s 15 hours. It’s gut-wrenching, but all of it’s gut-wrenching.
“They asked for a sample of my dad’s body tissue and blood so they could run a test to make sure that my dad wasn’t under the influence of drink or drugs, they didn’t even test VC. They never tested him once.”
The public inquiry continues.