NOTTINGHAM triple killer Valdo Calocane could be freed from prison in three years – as the victim’s families say they feel “let down” by police.
Calocane, 32, stabbed Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both aged 19, and 65-year-old Ian Coates to death in a brutal rampage last summer.
PAMurderer Valdo Calocane stabbed three people to death in Nottingham city centre and attacked three others[/caption]
PAFrom left to right: Ian Coates, 65, Barnaby Webber, 19 and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19[/caption]
PACalocane was sentenced to a hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder[/caption]
PABarnaby Webber’s family say police ‘have blood on their hands’ following Calocane’s sentence[/caption]
He then called his brother and told him: “This will be the last time I speak to you. Take the family out of the country.”
When asked if he was going to do something stupid, Calocane replied: “It is already done”.
Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, has now been locked up in Ashworth high-security hospital after pleading guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
This means he will not be released while he continues to pose a risk to the public, which could be for the rest of his life.
However, Calocane could be freed just three years into his sentence.
Under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, an offender is entitled to a review of their mental health every 36 months.
If a doctor assessing Calocane believes the killer is of sound mind, he may be released.
Those who are eligible can apply to a mental health tribunal once in the second six months, then once every year after that.
But under a Section 41 order, the Justice Secretary or a first tier tribunal can veto that assessment if they believe Calocane still poses a risk to the public.
There is thought to be concern within Government over the three-yearly-review trigger for release, according to The Telegraph.
The families of the victims have been united in their anger over the sentencing.
The killer has slipped through the net on multiple occasions
Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber were murdered by Calocane 200 metres from their home
Pixel8000Valdo Calocane being escorted away by police[/caption]
Emma Webber, the mother of student Barnaby Webber, accused the police of having “blood on their hands” after the killer slipped through the net multiple times.
Speaking outside Nottingham Crown Court, Emma said: “True justice has not been served today. We as a devastated family have been let down by multiple agency failings and ineffectiveness.”
But his sentence could now be referred to the Court of Appeal after the attorney general received a complaint saying it was too lenient.
Speaking to The Times at home in Somerset, Emma and her husband, David have now welcomed a decision by the attorney-general to review whether Calocane’s sentence was too lenient.
Mr Webber said the review by Victoria Prentis, the attorney-general, was “the right thing and it needs to be done”.
Rob Griffin, Nottinghamshire Police’s assistant chief constable, has admitted more could have been done to arrest Calocane – especially as a warrant had been out against him for nine months.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has so far resisted ordering an independent review.
FAMILY HEARTBREAK
It comes after the victims’ families wept as their loved ones’ harrowing final moments were revealed in court for the first time.
They also slammed the “monster” triple killer in powerful victim impact statements as they bravely faced Calocane.
Grace’s dad, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, told the brute he was a “a cold, cowardly and calculating killer”.
He went on to praise his daughter who “heroically and valiantly fought you. Like a hero she put herself in harm’s way.”
The dad said: “The love of our life has been taken away from us. [The] music from my ears has been taken away. Our landscape has turned from vivid colour to black and white.”
Barnaby’s mum Emma Webber said her son’s life had been “stolen in the most vicious, unprovoked, senseless and evil way imaginable”.
She added: “I have utter rage and pure hatred for you, the murderer that sits before me today.
“I do hope that what remains of your dark soul will feel true remorse for what you have done.”
While Ian’s son James Coates branded Calocane a “selfish monster who decided to go on a killing spree”.
“To have a life taken so horrifically is something you will never come to terms with”, he added.
WARNING SIGNS
Calocane came to the UK from Guinea-Bissau with his family in 2007 when he was aged 16.
He grew up in a devout church-going family in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and was described as “bright and studious”.
He had been receiving treatment from mental health services since 2020, including being treated with anti-psychotic medication.
It is understood his health spiralled during the Covid lockdown and complained of hearing voices telling him he needed to kill people.
Calocane had been sectioned at least four times before the attack but “actively concealed symptoms of psychosis”.
The killer also refused to take his medication and was admitted to hospital in 2020 after smashing down doors in his block of flats.
On occasion in May 2021, Calocane visited MI5’s London headquarters to ask them to stop “controlling him”.
The prosecutor said: “There is a photograph taken by their systems at Thames House, saying ‘please arrest me’ – effectively ‘stop controlling me’.”
Calocane also assaulted a police officer during a search of his flat, with the court told there were “missed opportunities” to alter the tragic chain of events.
Nottinghamshire Police’s assistant chief constable Rob Griffin admitted “we should have done more to arrest him”.
But the officer added: “Because of the circumstance prevailing, at the time of the alleged assault, in my opinion it is highly unlikely that he would have received a custodial sentence.
“Of course, an arrest might have triggered a route back into mental health services, but as we have seen from his previous encounters with those services, it seems unlikely that he would have engaged in this process.”
Timeline of missed opportunities to stop triple killer Valdo Calocane
23 May 2020
Calocane first became known to the authorities back in 2020 when he attended A&E over fears he was having a heart attack.
The killer returned home to Nottingham but terrorised the block of flats by busting down doors.
Calocane was arrested for criminal damage and assessed as psychotic when taken in to custody.
Despite this, he was released without charge and almost immediately knocked down another apartment door.
The thug was arrested again but was this time sectioned after being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.
July 2020
Calocane again tries to smash his way into a stranger’s flat and is returned to Highbury Hospital.
He had stopped taking his medication at the time, which became a common theme for the killer.
August 2021
A mental health worker visits his home but Calocane is believed to have actively concealed symptoms of psychosis.
He then evaded contact with the community team and stopped taking his medication again.
Officers obtained a warrant under the Mental Health Act to gain entry to his home but no action is taken until the following month.
September 2021
Police execute the warrant but an officer is assaulted by Calocane during the search.
A bag of unused medication dating from February 2021 is found.
Calocane was admitted to in-patient services but later reverted back to his old ways and began skipping appointments.
January/February 2022
Police were called to Calocane’s home after he attacked a flatmate in a row over the cleaning.
Pals told how the violence broke out when mature student Calocane snapped at being asked to pick up dirty washing at the apartment.
The clip shows panicked Chris Young begging for roommates to “call police” and screaming “Valdo, get off me” as he’s out in a headlock.
Officers attended the scene and escorted Calocane away – before university officials pushed for him to not face prosecution.
Instead the killer was offered mental health support to allow him to finish his mechanical engineering degree, last summer.
July/August 2022
Calocane had been due to collect his medication but instead lies and claims he is out of the country.
A mental health team visit his discharge address but the attacker is found not to live there.
September 2022
A warrant for Calocane’s arrest was issued after failed to show up at court for attacking a police officer.
This warrant was still in place nine months later when he carried out the rampage.
May 2023
Calocane manages to get a job at a warehouse in Leicestershire five weeks before the killings but he attacks two employees.
Attempts were made to tell him he was blocked from entering the premises but no one can get hold of him.
June 2023
By the morning of the triple killing, a warrant for Calocane’s arrest has been in place for nine months.
Despite this, he was free to travel to Nottingham and lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce on a victim.
Calocane ambushes Barnaby and Grace as they walk home from a night out together – pulling out a dagger and stabbing them both to death.
Barnaby’s mum Emma revealed to The Times the heartbreaking moment she could not reach her son on his phone and used a tracking app.
Emma said: “Almost at that exact moment it came up on the news that the incident had taken place in Ilkeston Road [and] Dave said, “Barney’s phone is in Ilkeston Road”.
“My body just went cold.”
He then kills caretaker Ian before stealing his van and running pedestrians over.
At this stage, Calocane has been “unmedicated and out of touch with psychiatric services for almost 12 months”.
He later claimed voices in his head were telling him to kill.
“Of course, an arrest might have triggered a route back into mental health services, but as we have seen from his previous encounters with those services, it seems unlikely that he would have engaged in this process.”
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