Families of Nottingham attack victims ‘let down’ after killer sentenced – ‘you have blood on your hands’
The families of the three victims killed by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham have spoken out after a judge ordered he be detained at a high-security hospital “very probably” for the rest of his life.
The mother of 19-year-old Barnaby Webber told Nottinghamshire Police “you have blood on your hands”, as she spoke outside the court on Thursday.
In a series of missed opportunities to prevent the killings last year, Calocane had previously been detained in hospital four times, and a warrant for his arrest had been issued months before his deadly rampage.
Valdo Calocane. Pic: Nottinghamshire Police
Emma Webber said: “True justice has not been served today. We as a devastated family have been let down by multiple agency failings and ineffectiveness.”
After the verdict, Nottinghamshire Police assistant chief constable Rob Griffin said there was not anything “obvious” to suggest the killer would launch the attacks.
Nottingham killer sentencing – as it happened
Mr Griffin cited “relatively low level assaults” by Calocane in the past which did not indicate he would commit the attacks on 13 June.
‘Mockery of the system’
James Coates, son of victim Ian Coates, said the killer had “got away with murder”.
James Coates. Pic: PA
He added Calocane had “made a mockery of the system” and if he had not been stopped when he was it “could have been one of the most catastrophic attacks this country has ever seen”.
He blamed the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the health service for his father’s death, saying they all failed.
“All we can hope is that in due course some sort of justice will be served,” he said.
‘Absolute hell’
Father of 19-year-old Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, described the last few days as “absolute hell”.
He said the family will “never come to terms” with her loss and how she died saying Grace was a “gift to us, she was a gift to the country”.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, and brother James outside court
Dr Kumar said the family never questioned Calocane’s diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, but pointed to a “lack of toxicology [reports]” and “contemporaneous mental health assessments” during the case.
He said there were “missed opportunities” to “divert [Calocane’s] lethal calls” that will “forever play on our minds”.
Prosecutors accepted 32-year-old Calocane’s guilty pleas to manslaughter, not murder, on the basis of diminished responsibility. He also admitted three counts of attempted murder after hitting three pedestrians in a van he stole from Mr Coates.
Calocane repeatedly stabbed the teenagers with a dagger as they walked home after a night out to celebrate the end of their exams.
He also knifed school caretaker Mr Coates, 65, to death as he made his way to work at Huntingdon Academy in the early hours.
Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar. Pic: Family handouts
‘Foolishly’ trusted in the system
On the CPS, Ms Webber said the agency “did not consult us as has been reported – instead we have been rushed, hastened and railroaded”.
“We were presented with a fait accompli that the decision had been made to accept manslaughter charges,” she said.
Emma Webber said ‘true justice has not been served’. Pic: PA
Barnaby Webber’s father David Webber and brother Charlie Webber. Pic: PA
“At no point during the previous five-and-a-half-months were we given any indication that this could conclude in anything other than murder.
“We trusted in our system, foolishly as it turns out.
“We do not dispute that the murderer is mentally unwell and has been for a number of years.
“However the pre-mediated planning, the collection of lethal weapons, hiding in the shadows and brutality of the attacks are that of an individual who knew exactly what he was doing.
“He knew entirely that it was wrong but he did it anyway.”
CPS explains manslaughter decision
The chief crown prosecutor for the East Midlands, Janine McKinney, said Calocane was assessed by three expert psychiatrists, all of whom said his actions were influenced by paranoid schizophrenia.
The condition had a “significant impact” on his actions and “impaired his ability to exercise self-control”, she said.
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CCTV shows final moments of teens before stabbing
It gave him a legal right to put forward a partial defence to murder and offer manslaughter pleas, Ms McKinney added.
On reviewing the evidence, the CPS concluded “there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction for murder, but there was for manslaughter and attempted murder”, Ms McKinney explained.
“That is why we accepted the pleas.”
UK
‘Major incident’ declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures
A major incident has been declared in Northern Ireland after a wildfire broke out, the latest in a series of blazes seen across the UK over the past week amid soaring temperatures.
More than 100 firefighters and 14 fire appliances were at the scene of the “significant” wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.
The fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”, the service said.
The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
“Local residents are requested to avoid the area, a number of roads have been closed, to help support firefighting operations,” the fire service added.
“We ask that all members of the public remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained.”
More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Various fires erupted across England this week amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year.
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
The weather conditions triggered a “severe” wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday.
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