Family of Nottingham knife victims criticize police and say killer Valdo Calocane 'got away with murder' as missed opportunities revealed – The Sun
THE heartbroken families of three tragic victims killed by the sick Nottingham knifeman have criticized police as they said he “got away with murder”.
Valdo Calocane stabbed Grace O'Malley-Kumar And Barnaby Webberboth 19 years old and 65 years old Ian Coates to death in a horrible calamity.
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Calocane, 32, is now locked up in Ashworth high security hospital afterwards plead guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
This means he will not be released as long as he continues to pose a risk to the public, which could be for the rest of his life.
But today the families of his victims criticized police for not taking action sooner to take him off the streets.
In a series of missed opportunities before the horror, Calocane is said to have followed a female student and threatened her. He was subsequently arrested after allegedly breaking into a neighbour's flat and threatening the residents in 2020.
In 2021 he visited MI5 – asking them to “stop controlling him” – and months later attacked police and failed to attend court.
In 2022 he attacked a housemate, only weeks later he attacked another housemate.
And on June 13, 2023, he unleashed his rampage that claimed the lives of three people.
In an emotional statement outside Nottingham Crown Court, Barnaby Webber's mother Emma Webber said the Assistant Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police has “blood on his hands”.
In a message addressed to Rob Griffin, the devastated mother said: “If you had just done your job properly, there's a good chance my beautiful boy would still be alive today.”
Emma added: “True justice has not been served today.
'There is so much more to say and there are clearly serious questions about this case and the events that led to this monster being introduced into society.
“But today our dear son, his dear friend Grace and a wonderfully kind grandfather, Ian, have been stolen from us forever and abandoned by the system that should have protected them.
“The CPS did not consult with us as has been reported. Instead we were hurried, rushed and railed.”
She added: “We were shocked. At no point in the previous five and a half months were we given any indication that this might turn into anything other than murder.
'We trusted our system, foolishly as it turns out. We do not dispute that the murderer is mentally unwell and has been so for a number of years.
“However, the premeditated planning, amassing of deadly weapons, hiding in the shadows and the ferocity of the attacks are from an individual who knew exactly what he was doing.
“He knew very well it was wrong, but he did it anyway.”
Meanwhile, Ian Coates' son James Coates criticized the police and the 'failed' system for the outcome.
He said: 'This man has made a fool of the system and got away with murder.
“This man is a murderer. Murder was all he cared about and he fulfilled it in a horrific manner.”
It comes when…
He added: “My heart went out to Grace and Barnaby's family from the very beginning.
“The letter from the law was once considered the most important rule to live and adhere to, imposed on us to make the country a fair and safer place.
'Now it is merely a cautionary tale in which the calculated, cold and brutal massacre can be reduced to something that falls within the same sentencing limitations and guidelines as that of death by dangerous the driving.”
James echoed Emma's criticism and blamed the police. Crown prosecutor and the health service before his father's death and said they failed.
Dr. Grace O'Malley-Kumar's father Sanjoy Kumar paid tribute to his “gift” of a daughter.
The devastated father said her family will “never come to terms” with her loss and the way she died.
“She was a gift to us, she was a gift to the country,” he says.
Dr. Kumar says Grace's family never questioned Calocane's diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
But heartbroken dad said there were 'missed opportunities' to 'distract' [Calocane’s] deadly appeals” that will “replay in our minds forever.”
“We will look for answers to missed opportunities to intervene and prevent this horrible thing crime,” he says.
Nottingham attacks timeline
May 23, 2020
Calocane went to the hospital believing he was having a heart attack. He was later arrested after causing damage to a door upon returning to his flat.
An assessment by psychiatric services under the Mental Health Act 1983 was carried out at a detention center in Nottingham, which concluded that Calocane was psychotic but his risk to others was low.
An hour after returning to his flat, Calocane “broke down another door to another apartment on the block”.
He was arrested for criminal damage and was detained under the Mental Health Act after a review before being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, defense lawyer Peter Joyce KC said.
July 2020
Following his release from Highbury Hospital in June 2020, the court heard he was readmitted for a period in July 2020.
August 2021
Prosecutor Khalil told the court that Calocane was believed to have actively concealed symptoms of psychosis during a home visit by a mental health professional.
He then avoided contact with the neighborhood team.
Officers obtained a warrant under the Mental Health Act to gain access to Calocane's property so an investigation could be carried out.
September 3, 2021
Officers executed the order. During this search, Calocane allegedly assaulted a police officer.
“A bag of unused medicines from February 2021 was also discovered in the flat,” prosecutor Khalil said.
“He was admitted to inpatient services and received treatment between September and October 2021.”
January/February 2022
Calocane was involved in an altercation with a housemate.
A mental health assessment determined he could receive further treatment in the community.
At the end of January, Calocane was readmitted as an inpatient under the Mental Health Act and discharged on February 24.
About six months before the attacks, Calocane was living in a multi-occupant house in Burford Road, Nottingham, where a housemate felt he was “somewhat distant, never speaking unless spoken to and only giving short responses afterwards”.
August/September 2022
Calocane was recorded as not being at home after a visit to his discharge address, with one resident saying no one by that name lived there.
Another arrest warrant was issued for him for assaulting a police officer after he failed to attend court in September.
May 2023
Five weeks before he killed three people, Calocane started working at a warehouse in Leicestershire, where he attacked two workers.
Attempts were made to tell him not to enter the premises again, but Calocane did not respond.
June 2023
According to lawyer Joyce, Calocane had been wanted in Nottingham for nine months on an arrest warrant for the attack on a police officer that took place in September 2021.
But he was free to carry out the attacks on June 13, killing Barnaby Webber, Grace Kumar and Ian Coates.
Assistant Chief Constable Griffin added: “The suspect was never arrested on that warrant which was outstanding at the time of his arrest in June 2023.”
Chief Inspector Leigh Sanders, who led the investigation, said June 13 last year was “one of the darkest days for our city”.
In a statement after Calocane's sentencing, he said the “savage” attacks were “terrifying not only for the victims, but also for those who witnessed them.”
He added: 'It was also a very nerve-wracking day for people living or working in Nottingham, who woke to find large parts of the city cordoned off as we investigated the deeply disturbing events that had unfolded.
Detective Sanders thanked the public for their patience and support on “one of the darkest days for our city.”
The killer's sentence means he will not be released as long as he continues to pose a risk to the public, which could be for the rest of his life.
Sentencing, Judge Turner said the attack was 'frenzied', adding: 'You committed a series of atrocities in this city which ended the lives of three people in this city.
“Your sickening crimes have both shocked the nation and devastated the lives of your surviving victims and the families of them all.”
After slaughtering the trio, Calocane called his brother and told him, “This will be the last time I speak to you.” Get the family out of the country.”
When asked if he was going to do something stupid, Calocane replied: “It's already done”.
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