On June 13, 2023, Valdo Calocane killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates and seriously injured three others with a stolen van. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and attempted murder, receiving an indefinite hospital order. This violent spree occurred despite an arrest warrant for Calocane being outstanding on the day of the attacks, and police took 'no steps' to execute it.
Police failures were evident in their handling of prior incidents involving Calocane. After a warehouse assault on May 5, 2023, where Calocane assaulted two colleagues at an Arvato warehouse in Kegworth, police did not visit victims or witnesses and sent a follow-up email only three days before the June attacks. In that assault, Calocane punched the male victim behind the ear after asking 'why are you talking to me?' and later kicked the female victim. These lapses contributed to a pattern where Calocane remained at large despite escalating violence.
He was very quiet and kept to himself.
Calocane had a history of mental illness, including paranoid schizophrenia, and had been sectioned multiple times before the attacks. He was a mature student at the University of Nottingham when he became mentally unwell and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in July 2020. By October 2021, Calocane had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act multiple times and had been involved in incidents including assaulting another student, Sebastian, in July 2021. This background of severe mental health issues was known to authorities but not adequately addressed in the lead-up to the attacks.
Early violent incidents included a headlock assault on a flatmate in January 2022. Calocane put his flatmate Christopher in a headlock after being asked to clean a shared bathroom. Calocane then assaulted Christopher, flying across the room, throwing a punch, wrestling, and putting him in a headlock. In a video clip, Calocane was seen holding Christopher in a headlock while Christopher asked someone to 'ring the police'. Calocane eventually let go, and Christopher called the police, but Calocane stopped him from leaving the flat.
No I'm not going to, what are you going to do about it?
The police response to these early incidents was inadequate. Police officers did not arrest Calocane after the January 2022 headlock incident, citing insufficient evidence. The officer who responded to a 999 call involving Calocane was just 12 shifts into her career. Additionally, Calocane assaulted a police officer in 2021, causing a haematoma, which was downplayed as minor by police. These responses suggest a lack of urgency and experience in handling Calocane's violent behavior.
In May 2023, the warehouse assault on colleagues further highlighted police inaction. Calocane assaulted two colleagues, a married couple, at an Arvato warehouse in Kegworth on May 5, 2023. The assault involved Calocane punching the male victim behind the ear after asking 'why are you talking to me?' and later kicking the female victim. Despite this violent episode, police failed to follow up promptly, with no visits to victims or witnesses and a delayed email sent just days before the fatal attacks in June.
I will call you a dirty [expletive].
Police handling of evidence after Calocane's arrest included controversies over toxicology testing. Police did not take hair or intimate samples from Calocane for toxicology testing after his arrest. Victims Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were tested for drugs and alcohol after death, but Calocane was not, which their families criticized. The specific reasons why toxicology tests were not conducted on Calocane after his arrest remain unclear, adding to concerns about investigative thoroughness.
Internal police disagreements and charging decisions emerged during the investigation. Police 'jumped the gun' to charge Calocane prematurely due to pressure from press and families, according to prosecutor Alan Murphy. Senior investigating officer Leigh Sanders believed Calocane acted 'in cold blood' and used the word 'murder' in documents. The full extent of internal police disagreements over charging Calocane and the nature of his actions is still being examined, highlighting tensions within the force.
Ring the police.
Victim impact included misinformation about Ian Coates' death. Elaine Newton, partner of Ian Coates, was mistakenly told he died in a car crash before learning five hours later he was stabbed. This delay in accurate information compounded the trauma for families affected by the attacks. The misinformation underscores communication failures in the aftermath of the violence.
Calocane's identity variations and background added complexity to the case. Calocane was known as Valdo Mendes at Arvato and had previously identified as Adam Mendes in court. He moved into private student accommodation Raleigh Park in Lenton, Nottingham in October 2021. These identity shifts may have complicated police tracking and mental health monitoring efforts prior to the attacks.
Deteriorating behavior and flatmate concerns in 2021-2022 signaled escalating risks. Between December 2021 and January 2022, Calocane's behavior deteriorated, becoming more withdrawn. Flatmates raised concerns about the state Calocane was leaving one of the shared bathrooms. Christopher described Calocane as 'very quiet and kept to himself,' suggesting isolation that preceded violent outbursts.
The public inquiry, led by retired judge Deborah Taylor, is examining the events that led up to the attacks. More than 100 witnesses, including police officers and mental health workers, are giving evidence over eight weeks. The outcome or findings of the public inquiry led by retired judge Deborah Taylor are pending, but it aims to address systemic failures in policing and mental health care.
Unknowns persist regarding police actions and mental health monitoring. Why police took no steps to execute the outstanding arrest warrant for Calocane before the attacks remains a key question. What specific mental health interventions or monitoring were in place for Calocane prior to the attacks is also unclear, as authorities grapple with missed opportunities. These gaps are central to the ongoing inquiry's investigation into how such a violent individual evaded detection.
Further unknowns involve internal dynamics and testing decisions. The specific reasons why toxicology tests were not conducted on Calocane after his arrest have not been fully explained, raising doubts about investigative protocols. The full extent of internal police disagreements over charging Calocane and the nature of his actions continues to be scrutinized, with implications for accountability. As the inquiry progresses, these issues will likely shape recommendations for preventing future tragedies.