Valdo Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed three (Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)
A schizophrenic man who murdered three people caused a woman to leap from her window after being released by mental health professionals who took into account the « over-representation » of young black men in detention, an inquiry has been told.
Valdo Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, and attempted to kill three further people in Nottingham in June 2023.
In her opening statement on Monday, Counsel to the Inquiry Rachel Langdale KC revealed that almost three years prior, in May 2020, Calocane kicked at a woman’s door whilst in the grip of psychosis, causing her to jump from a first-floor window in terror and sustain a spinal injury.
Mental health workers and doctors had been « leaning towards » sectioning Calocane, who had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage earlier that day, but « the team of professionals considered the research evidence that shows over-representation of young black males in detention », the inquiry heard.
They maintained that the decision to treat Calocane, referred to as VC throughout proceedings, within the community would have been « based purely on his current needs, acuity of symptoms and the risks », rather than on the patient’s demographic background, Ms Langdale stated.
Calocane was subsequently released into the community following their assessment, the inquiry heard. Ms Langdale said: « An even more serious incident occurred shortly after VC’s return from custody.
« You will hear evidence, chair, from a former resident of Brook Court who heard a knock on her door soon after she had returned from work at around 8pm.
« It was VC. She asked who it was and he said: ‘It’s me, open please.' »
« She repeated the question, but he just knocked louder and louder. He began kicking. She was alone in the flat and describes her fear at this point.
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« She was so frightened that she jumped out of a first floor window, causing serious damage to her spine. »
Ms Langdale noted that the inquiry chair, Deborah Taylor, may question why Calocane was discharged at that juncture and whether immediate release into the community was suitable.
She continued: « The inquiry will also explore the appropriateness of the decisions made in this Mental Health Act assessment and its consideration of risk. »
Ms Langdale stated the Royal College of Psychiatrists is unaware of any evidence suggesting concerns that the « disproportionate use of restrictive measures in respect of black patients impacts the approach taken by practitioners. »
She added: « There is no evidence that psychiatrists are not admitting patients because they are black.
« The inquiry may wish to consider further in oral evidence whether race was a factor in restrictive practices not being used as a result of publicity about mental health reforms in the period 2020 to 2022.
« The evidence thus far received by the inquiry does not suggest it was. »
The inquiry was told that following the incident, Calocane’s mother expressed a preference for her son to receive hospital treatment « as he is a risk to others in his current mental state. »
During a mental health assessment conducted the following day, Calocane was described as « perplexed, very distracted, and appearing to be psychotic », the inquiry heard.
Undated family handout file photo originally issued on 22/01/24 by Nottinghamshire Police of (left to right) Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar. An inquiry, chaired by Her Honour (HH) Deborah Taylor, starting on Monday will look at the events leading up to Valdo Calocane killing university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates in June 2023. Issue date: Monday February 23, 2026. (Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)
Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility (Peter Byrne/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Ms Langdale said: « He explained that he had broken the neighbour’s door after hearing a woman screaming. He denied taking drugs.
« The impression was first episode psychosis due to sleep deprivation and stress, with a risk to VC’s own safety and others. It was concluded that he did not have capacity to agree to hospital admission. Detention pursuant to section two was recommended. »
Over Christmas 2022, Calocane forwarded files to his parents alongside a document stating he « had been hearing voices in his head all the time, but this wasn’t the result of mental ill-health », attributing it instead to « mind control technology », the inquiry heard.
Following the attacks on June 13, a forensic examination of Calocane’s mobile phone revealed he had searched for « mind control technology » and watched footage including of a shooting. He had also accessed documents containing material relating to legislation and police powers, Ms Langdale said.
Calocane maintained a relatively low profile during his fourth hospital admission in early 2022, dedicating much of his time to his mobile phone. Ms Langdale said the inquiry will « explore with treating clinicians whether they ever asked VC what he was viewing on his phone, if not, why not, and whether patients routinely have unfettered access to their phone. »
His risk assessment was revised for the final time before the attacks on 28 February 2022 – which noted « that given the history of violence and aggression, there should not be home visits, and if a home visit was required it should be a joint visit; no lone working. »
Ms Langdale added: « We will ask why this assessment of the risks to the community medical team did not apply equally to other students and the wider public. »
Judgements made and decisions taken in the period following the attacks are of « enormous significance to the bereaved families and survivors », Ms Langdale said, adding: « Was everything done that could be done within the first responses to prevent the deaths of Barney, Grace and Ian? Given the time taken to apprehend VC, were the later attacks preventable? The inquiry will examine what judgments were made in the circumstances faced. »
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