Son of man stabbed to death says authorities ‘aren’t learning’ to avoid mental health homicides
The son of a man fatally stabbed by a paranoid schizophrenic in 2007 says “the same recommendations keep coming up” to this day to avoid mental health homicides, yet authorities “aren’t learning very much”.
Julian Hendy, whose father Philip was killed in Bristol, says despite “100 to 120 people every year across the UK being killed by somebody with a severe mental illness”, he doesn’t believe the authorities are doing enough.
The issue has been highlighted by the case of Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic who stabbed three people to death in Nottingham last year and ordered to be detained in a high-security hospital on Thursday.
Mr Hendy, who has been supporting the families of the Nottingham attack victims in court, says: “What we see is the same recommendations keep coming up time and time again.
“The evidence doesn’t seem to be that they’re learning very much. And we’re not talking about difficult things here.
“We’re talking about doing proper risk assessments, keeping proper records and listening to families.”
“People try to work on the principle of least restriction. So they’re not assertive enough. And they work on the basis of what the patient wants rather than the public,” he adds.
The circumstances surrounding the Nottingham killings have a striking resemblance to the events that led up to another paranoid schizophrenic, Zephaniah McLeod, arming himself with a knife and attacking and killing at random in the streets of Birmingham in 2020.
Like Calacone, McLeod also had a history of violence, had stopped attending mental health appointments and refused to take his medication.
23-year-old Jacob Billington died in the attack. Jacob’s best friend, Michael Callaghan, was left with life changing injuries.
The mother of a man who was stabbed by a paranoid schizophrenic “who got lost in the system” has said “a tragic lack of risk assessments” has allowed such attacks to take place.
Anne Callaghan, Michael’s mother, has spoken out after Calacone’s sentencing.
Calocane, stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates in Nottingham in June 2023 after a series of missed opportunities to prevent the killings.
Calocane had previously been detained in hospital four times, and a warrant for his arrest had been issued months before his deadly rampage.
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The case brought back unhappy memories for Mrs Callaghan of the attack on her son by Zephaniah McLeod, who also had paranoid schizophrenia.
McLeod’s knife severed Mr Callaghan’s jugular vein and carotid artery, causing him to lose so much blood he had a stroke. Mr Callaghan’s friend Jacob Billington was stabbed through the neck and died in the attack.
A judge later said McLeod, who had a long history of violent offences, got “lost in the system” after being freed from prison during the COVID lockdown in April 2020 – five months before the deadly attacks in Birmingham.
An independent investigation commissioned by the NHS later found that despite McLeod’s mental health problems and violent history, upon his release he was “not subject to any form of supervision, nor was he obliged to engage with agencies such as the police if they were to offer him any support”.
In 2018, McLeod had told a psychiatrist that he was “hearing voices, both male and female telling him to “kill ’em… stab ’em… they are talking about you”.
He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years at Birmingham Crown Court in 2021, after admitting the manslaughter of Jacob Billington, four counts of attempted murder and three charges of wounding.
Since the attacks on their sons, Mrs Callaghan and Jacob’s mother Jo Billington have spoken out about changes that need to be made to stop such an attack happening again.
Zephaniah McLeod, left, and Valdo Calocane, right, both carried out killings after a series of failings by public services
Following the sentencing of Calocane, who psychiatrists also said had heard voices telling him to kill people, Mrs Callaghan told Sky News: “When the news first came through (of the sentencing) I felt like I’d been punched.
“I felt a real physical sickness… it’s the same kind of thing that has happened again.”
She added: “It’s just heartbreaking, isn’t it… (Calocane) was known to be dangerous and was at large.”
Mrs Callaghan said that she didn’t feel the recommendations made at the end of the independent investigation after the deaths were very strong, and added: “One of the agencies involved admitted to us that no changes had been made up to the point we spoke to them 12 months ago.”
The report made five recommendations to improve services, including a call for the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust to develop an up-to-date operational policy covering prison discharge services.
From left: Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley were killed in the Nottingham attacks
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‘Justice has not been served’
Mrs Callaghan said “there’s a tragic lack of risk assessments” when it comes to violent people with a mental illness who have been in contact with public services such as the police, prisons or mental health services.
She added: “How can that happen when somebody is known to be dangerous?”
Barnaby’s mother Emma Webber said after Calocane was sentenced on Thursday: “True justice has not been served today. We as a devastated family have been let down by multiple agency failings and ineffectiveness.”
“We trusted in our system, foolishly as it turned out,” she said, telling the assistant chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police Rob Griffin: “You have blood on your hands.”
UK
Lionesses parade: The route and key timings as thousands of England fans to descend on central London
The Lionesses will celebrate with thousands of England fans in central London today as the players take part in an open-top bus procession.
The bus will carry the team through central London, allowing supporters to celebrate the team’s defence of their Women’s Euros title alongside the likes of Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly and catch a glimpse of the silverware.
Here is all you need to know.
Where will the parade go and when?
The team’s open-top bus will travel along The Mall from 12.10pm.
It will end with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, which is expected to start at roughly 12.30pm and end at 1pm, the Football Association (FA) announced.
The Royal Marines Portsmouth band and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will perform on the stage and highlights from the tournament will be shown on big screens.
England manager Sarina Wiegman will then lead her triumphant team out on stage to lift the trophy.
The event will be hosted by former Lioness and football pundit Alex Scott.
Fans will be able to attend the event for free, but the FA have warned that the capital is going to be “very busy”.
“People should plan their visits carefully, both coming into central London and travelling home,” the association said.
England players celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Pic: Reuters
How to watch
You can watch coverage of the entire event live on Sky News from 10am and follow all the action with our live blog.
Fans can also follow coverage of the event on the BBC, ITV and across England’s social media channels.
Celebrations with the deputy PM
The Lionesses landed back in the UK from Basel, Switzerland, on Monday, where celebrations continued with a reception at Downing Street.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock hosted the team ahead of today’s bus parade.
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‘It’s very, very special’
Sir Keir Starmer said: “The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation.
“Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement, but an inspiration for young people across the country.”
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Chloe Kelly saves England again
An extra bank holiday?
As the team have become the first senior England side to win a major tournament on foreign soil, some have called for an extra bank holiday to mark the occasion.
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey was one of those who asked the prime minister if it was “time for that bank holiday”.
He was referring to comments made by Sir Keir in 2023. When, as leader of the opposition, he wrote on X that there “should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home”.
But with estimates suggesting an extra bank holiday would cost the economy £2.4bn, it’s understood such a move isn’t being planned by Downing Street.
‘There is no stopping them now’
The impact of the Lionesses second consecutive Euros title is already being felt across the UK.
At Bearsted Football Club in Maidstone, Kent, a mural of Alessia Russo, who levelled Sunday’s final with a goal in the 56th minute, has been unveiled.
Alessia Russo scoring the levelling goal. Pic: Reuters
The club is where Russo first started playing, and chairman Jamie Houston told Sky News the Lionesses have helped transform the women’s game.
“Five years ago we never had a girl’s football team,” he told Sky correspondent Mollie Malone. “Now we have five separate teams for girls, and boys are accepting of more girls in the game.
“There is no stopping them now.”
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What’s next for the Lionesses?
Read more:
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Lynda Hale, who played in the England squad in the first ever international women’s match against Scotland in 1972, reiterated that women’s football has changed drastically since she played.
“When I first started playing there was hardly anyone that would watch,” she told Sky News Breakfast.
“To put on the England shirt and think what we started has grown to this magnitude, and it is still going to grow, is absolutely fantastic. I think the sky’s the limit in women’s football.”
Asked what advice she would have for the current England squad after their win, Ms Hale said: “The girls need to make as many memories as they can and take everything in their stride.”
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a mother and her two children in Northern Ireland has died.
Ian Rutledge, a 43-year-old agricultural worker, had himself suffered a gunshot wound during the attack in the village of Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh on Wednesday morning.
He was taken to hospital where he remained in a serious condition until the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced he had died on Monday evening.
It is understood he was the only suspect in the murder investigation.
Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were all shot dead at a property on Drummeer Road during the attack.
The PSNI said last week that all four people who were shot were members of the same household.
Police have been investigating whether the attack was a triple murder and attempted suicide.
A prayer service took place for Ms Whyte and the two children in Barefield, County Clare on Sunday, following a community vigil in Maguiresbridge last Friday.
A funeral service is expected to take place in County Clare later this week.
Following Mr Rutledge’s death, the PSNI said detectives have “reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward”.
It comes after the PSNI issued an appeal on Saturday for information involving the movements of a vehicle.
They have asked anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car being driven in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on the evening of Tuesday 22 July to call detectives on 101.
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A police cordon was in place close to the scene last week. Pic: PA
Tributes paid to ‘lovely-natured’ children
A local Gaelic football club said last week that Ms White and her children were all “active and beloved” members of their club.
Sara and James Rutledge also used to be part of a local cricket club, which said in a statement that it was “extremely saddened by the tragic events”.
“Both of them turned out to be talented young cricketers and two absolutely lovely-natured children,” the statement read.
Flowers, teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes were laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road in the days after the shooting.
Donald Trump has reignited his row with London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan after calling him a “nasty person” who has done “a terrible job”.
During an hour-long news conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland, the US president hit out at the Labour mayor, who has responded with his own snipey remarks.
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Asked if he would visit London during his state visit in September, Mr Trump said: “I will, I’m not a fan of your mayor, I think he’s done a terrible job.
“A nasty person, I think.”
The prime minister then interrupted and said: “He’s a friend of mine.”
But the president added: “I think he’s done a terrible job but I will certainly visit London, I hope so.”
Sir Sadiq’s spokesperson then released a statement saying: “Sadiq is delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world.
“He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer.
“Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”
Sir Sadiq Khan was knighted in June. Pic: PA
They noted that Sir Sadiq has won three mayoral elections, including when Mr Trump lost the US election in 2020.
This is not the first time Mr Trump and Sir Sadiq have locked horns.
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The PM told Mr Trump that Sir Sadiq is a friend of his – seen here laying wreaths for the anniversary of the 7/7 bombings. Pic: PA
During his first presidential term, Mr Trump called the London mayor a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London”.
Sir Sadiq then described Mr Trump as a “poster boy for racists”.
And in November 2024, after Mr Trump won his second term, Sir Sadiq said many Londoners would be “fearful” about what it would “mean for democracy”.
However, as Sir Keir tried to show diplomacy with Mr Trump after becoming PM, Sir Sadiq said he “wanted to work closely with the American president” ahead of his inauguration in January.
The London mayor said as somebody “who believes in democracy, and voting and elections, we should recognise the fact that Donald Trump is the elected president of the United States”.
But he added: “Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this president is different from the last time he was president.”
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