A female victim of the triple killing in Nottingham “tried to save” her friend as he was stabbed to death, a nearby resident revealed.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were walking home after a University of Nottingham end of term party when they were fatally stabbed. Ian Coates, 65, a school caretaker, was also killed later as he made his way to work.

One resident, who has not been named, said CCTV shows O’Malley-Kumar attempting to save Barnaby as the pair were assaulted on Tuesday morning.

The woman told MailOnline: “The boy and the girl were walking on their own, there was nobody else in the picture except the attacker, who came up from behind. 

“He attacked the boy first - the girl had an opportunity to run away. But she didn’t, she tried to get the man off her friend. She tried to save the boy.”

The woman said she and her husband have had to take medication to help them sleep since watching the footage, which has been handed over to the police.

She added: “What we witnessed on the screen keeps playing over in our minds. It’s awful.”

A man was due in court today charged with murder and attempted murder after three people were stabbed to death in Nottingham and three others were injured by a van.

Mechanical engineering graduate Valdo Calocane, of no fixed address, will appear before city magistrates.

Grace, Barnaby and Coates died early on Tuesday. Two people hit by a van allegedly driven by Calocane, 31, were “stable” in hospital yesterday, while a third has been discharged.

Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “These charges are a significant development and arise as a result of our thorough investigation. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all those affected.”

She added: “We are keenly aware of the deep emotion being felt surrounding these tragic events and the high level of interest. However, posting prejudicial information online about an active case could amount to contempt of court and, in the most serious cases, have the potential to cause the collapse of a trial.”

Grace and Barnaby were walking home together from a night out when they were knifed soon after 4am. Ian, a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan, died shortly afterwards when his van was stolen.

The Nottinghamshire force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after it emerged that a marked police car followed the vehicle briefly.

Barnaby’s parents David and Emma plus younger brother Charlie yesterday laid flowers where he died on Ilkeston Road. They said: “We chose to come to this dreadful space because we owe it to both Barnaby and Grace to let them know we are here.

“As has been expressed by so many already, heartbreak cannot begin to describe our loss. As painful as this tribute today has been, it is yet another step forward on the very long, dark journey we have been forced to take.

“We would like to thank all at Nottingham University and the police for their professionalism, diligence, respect and care they have shown.”

History undergraduate Barnaby and medical student Grace were respected cricketers, and yesterday the England and Australia teams wore black armbands for the Ashes Test at Edgbaston in honour of all the victims. The ground also held a minute’s silence.

Ian worked at Huntingdon Academy primary in Nottingham and was just four months away from retirement. By Sami Quadri, Evening Standard