The NHS trust that treated Nottingham attacks killer Valdo Calocane is being investigated for corporate manslaughter, Northumbria Police confirmed on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police.
Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020, fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on the morning of 13 June 2023. He was previously sectioned by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust but discharged in September 2022 because he failed to turn up for appointments and the team had “lost” him, a statutory public inquiry heard.
“NHS trust that treated Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane faces corporate manslaughter investigation.”
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “We are in contact with the victims’ families and survivors and are committed to supporting them throughout this process. It would not be appropriate for us to comment any further.”
Families of Calocane’s victims said the NHS trust had “catastrophically failed at every level” and welcomed the investigation. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, was among those who spoke out.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was responsible for Calocane’s care for two years. During that period, he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act four times and warned by a doctor he would end up killing somebody. Following the attacks, he pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He is currently serving an indefinite hospital order in a high-security facility.
The Nottingham Inquiry, which heard evidence from doctors, nurses and other NHS staff, was told there had been numerous errors in Calocane’s care and management. A spokesperson for the trust said: “We know how important the independent inquiry and police investigation are for the affected families, the survivors and our local communities. We will, of course, be co-operating fully with Northumbria Police.”
