Nottingham Triple Killer's Prior Assault Revealed in Inquiry
An official inquiry has uncovered disturbing details about Valdo Calocane's violent behavior more than a year before he committed the fatal Nottingham stabbings that shocked the nation. The central London hearing learned that Calocane, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, assaulted a flatmate in student accommodation in January 2022, but police took no meaningful action despite being called to the scene.
Flatmate Describes Terrifying Headlock Incident
Christopher, who shared a six-room student flat with Calocane and others on Faraday Road in Nottingham, testified about the harrowing encounter. The confrontation began when Christopher confronted Calocane about leaving the bathroom in a messy state. According to his testimony, Calocane responded by "flying across the room" and throwing a punch.
"I dodged the punch and then we were wrestling," Christopher told the inquiry. "He ended up getting me in a headlock." Mobile phone footage presented as evidence showed Calocane holding Christopher in this headlock on January 15, 2022.
Christopher described feeling trapped and vulnerable, stating that Calocane refused to let him leave the flat while they waited for police to arrive. "It did feel like that at the time because when the assault happened there were two other people in the room," he explained. "It was just me and him at that point and he's staring into my eyes. Yeah, it did feel like that to me."
Police Response Deemed Inadequate
The inquiry heard that when officers finally arrived, their response was "dismissive." According to Christopher, the police officer suggested "restorative justice" rather than taking decisive action. "They did not arrest him and nothing happened," Christopher stated, emphasizing that Calocane faced no consequences for the assault.
This incident occurred just months after Calocane had attacked a police officer in September 2021, headbutting, punching, and swinging handcuffs at the officer. Despite these escalating violent episodes, authorities failed to intervene effectively.
Fatal Consequences of Inaction
In the early hours of June 13, 2023, Calocane went on to fatally stab University of Nottingham undergraduates Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19 years old, and 65-year-old grandfather Ian Coates. He also attempted to kill three additional people during his rampage.
Christopher expressed his belief that he and others were put at unnecessary risk because they were never informed about Calocane's medical history and previous violent behavior. "I got lucky," he told the inquiry, reflecting on how the situation could have ended much worse for him.
Current Status and Bro Implications
Calocane is currently detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital after prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to murder at his sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court in January 2024. The inquiry continues to examine the systemic failures that allowed his violent behavior to escalate unchecked.
The mother of one of the students killed in the Nottingham attacks has stated publicly that Calocane "should not have been out in society," highlighting the tragic consequences of missed intervention opportunities. This case raises serious questions about mental health monitoring, police response protocols, and information sharing between agencies.
