Inquiry Uncovers Race-Based Decision in Nottingham Killer's Case
A public inquiry into the Nottingham triple killings has revealed that mental health professionals decided against detaining Valdo Calocane in 2020, partly due to considerations about the over-representation of young black men in custody. Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, fatally stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and severely injured three others in June 2023.
Violent Incident and Assessment in 2020
During the first day of the hearing, counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC detailed that Calocane was arrested on 24 May 2020 after repeatedly kicking and punching a door in his student accommodation. A neighbor had to restrain him before police arrived. At the time, Calocane was a student at the University of Nottingham and underwent a mental health assessment where he described hearing voices.
The assessment concluded he was experiencing a first episode of psychosis, attributed to sleep deprivation and exam stress. Langdale stated that a doctor initially leaned towards sectioning Calocane due to the lack of risk history, but a team of mental health professionals reviewed research evidence on the disproportionate detention of young black men.
Release and Subsequent Incidents
It was decided that a crisis team could provide a safe alternative, with Calocane agreeing to medication and home treatment, including twice-daily visits. However, shortly after his release, he kicked another neighbor's door, causing her to jump from a first-floor window and sustain serious spinal injuries. Calocane was then arrested and sectioned for about three weeks, the first of four hospital admissions before the 2023 attacks.
A Care Quality Commission report into his care between May 2020 and September 2022 identified a series of errors and misjudgments, warning that without action, these issues posed inherent risks to patient and public safety. Despite concerns from Calocane's mother, he was discharged on 17 June 2020, only to be sectioned again in July after assaulting someone.
Pattern of Deception and Systemic Failures
The inquiry heard that Calocane repeatedly misled healthcare professionals about his mental health and medication usage. For instance, he stopped taking his medication two weeks after his first discharge. In May 2021, he visited MI5 claiming to have information and requested arrest, just days after his mother expressed concerns about his medication non-compliance.
In a joint statement, the families of the victims said they had faced "failure and silence" for too long and emphasized the inquiry's role in holding accountable those who neglected their duties. They called for a thorough examination of missed opportunities by mental health services, law enforcement, and judicial bodies to prevent similar tragedies.
The inquiry continues, aiming to assess the events and omissions that allowed Calocane to remain free and to recommend preventive measures for the future.
