Police admit they 'should have done more' to stop Valdo Calocane, who had a warrant out for his arrest before the triple attack
Police today admitted they “should have done more” to arrest a Nottingham knifeman before he killed three in a rampage.
Valdo Calocane stabbed Grace O'Malley Kumar And Barnaby Webberboth 19 years old, dead as they walked to their uni halls.
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He also fatally stabbed a 65-year-old Ian Coates before stealing his van and driving into pedestrians.
Before his condemnation Today, Nottinghamshire Police admitted there were missed opportunities to stop Calocane.
Officers said there were a “number of occasions” between 2020 and 2022 where they had had contact with the triple murderer.
It was also revealed that a warrant was issued for his arrest in September 2022 when he failed to appear court for assaulting a police officer.
This was still the case nine months later when Calocane went on his final rampage summer.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin admitted: “We should have done more to arrest him.”
The officer continued: “Because of the conditions prevailing in my country at the time of the alleged assault opinion it is highly unlikely that he would have received a custodial sentence.
'Of course an arrest could have initiated a route back to the spirit world health but as we have seen from his previous meetings with those services, it seems unlikely that he would have become involved in this process.”
Calocane came to Britain from Guinea-Bissau with his family in 2007, when he was 16 years old.
He was treated by mental health services since 2020, including treatment with antipsychotic medications.
Calocane was dismembered at least four times before the attack, but “actively hid the symptoms of psychosis.”
The killer also refused to take his medication and was hospitalized in 2020 after smashing doors in his apartment building.
Calocane also fell one Police officer during a search of his apartment the following year.
It was this attack that led to the arrest warrant being issued after he failed to attend court.
ACC Griffin said: “The suspect was never arrested on that warrant which was outstanding at the time of his arrest in June 2023.”
Calocane previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
He also admitted attempted murder, with all his pleas accepted by prosecutors – meaning he did not have to stand trial for murder.
The court was told Calocane was suffering from 'extreme' mental illness at the time of the attacks.
He began his rampage just after 4am on June 13, as Grace and Barnaby were walking back to their halls after a night out.
The killer attacked after lurking in the shadows and began stabbing Barnaby with a dagger.
As he fell to the ground, Grace showed 'incredible courage' in trying to fight off the killer.
The missed opportunities to stop Calocane
Spring 2020 – Calocane allegedly followed a female student to her accommodation and threatened her. She was so scared that she jumped out of the window to escape. It is believed that the university has made efforts to seek mental health care for the killer.
July 2020 – He allegedly broke into the neighbors' apartment and threatened the residents. He was held in hospital under the Mental Health Act until the end of that month.
May 2021 – Calocane visits MI5 and asks them to stop “controlling him”. His photo is taken at their headquarters in London.
September 2021 – Calocane is covered by the Mental Health Act, but attacks a police officer on the way to hospital. He fails to attend court and a warrant is issued for his arrest.
November 2021 – He's being held under the Mental Act
January 2022 – The police were called after Calocane got into a fight with a roommate over a dirty kitchen.
She managed to push the rampaging Calocane onto the road, but this caused him to turn his attention to her.
Tragically, he was “as uncompromisingly brutal in his attack on Grace as he was in his attack on Barnaby” and she too fell to the ground.
Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said footage captured the “devastating violence of the attacks” which was “reflected only by the deliberate and ruthless manner in which the suspect acted”.
Calocane was then seen walking away “calmly” as he continued his horrific attack when he came across Ian.
After stabbing the father to death, Calocane stole his van and rammed three pedestrians with it, injuring Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett.
Once they were armed, the carnage finally came to an end Police ducked into a residential street to arrest him.
Calocane will be sentenced today.
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