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  "path": "/news/valdo-calocane-free-carry-out-spree-mental-health",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-23T13:41:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "killed teenage students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates",
    "Valdo Calocane: Mother of Nottingham attack victim blasts justice system over ‘failures across every agency’ as she discusses Victim and Courts Bill",
    "Nottingham attack victim who protected friend among 20 extraordinary Britons awarded gallantry award",
    "Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane WON'T face tougher sentence as judges throw out appeal for 'unduly lenient' ruling",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nAn inquiry into the Nottingham triple killer has heard how he was free to carry out his killing spree after mental health workers feared detaining him would be racist.\n\nValdo Calocane killed teenage students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates in June 2023.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe then called his brother and told him: \"This will be the last time I speak to you. Take the family out of the country.\"\n\nWhen asked if he was going to do something stupid, Calocane replied: \"It is already done.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nProsecutors, police and medical professionals will be scrutinised by the two-year public inquiry, chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor, which is expected to hear from more than 100 witnesses.\n\nThe enquiry heard today how mental health professionals debated whether to section Calocane in 2020 when he tried to kick down a neighbour’s door.\n\nHowever, it was decided to release him into the community after considering \"research that shows over-representation of young black males in detention.\n\nIn her opening statement on Monday, counsel to the inquiry, Rachel Langdale KC, outlined concerns about Calocane’s case, who is referred to as VC in the inquiry, which will be examined.\n\nShe said: \"Whilst we refer to the Nottingham attacks collectively, each attack was on an individual, and each attack is a personal tragedy for the victims, their families, and those close to them.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nCalocane came to the UK from Guinea-Bissau alongside his family in 2007 when he was aged 16. He grew up in a devout church-going family in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and was described as a \"bright and studious\" boy.\n\nA report by the Care Quality Commission said Calocane’s records make it \"clear\" that he was \"acutely unwell\" throughout the two years he was under the care of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT).\n\nHe was psychotic and suffering from paranoid delusions before eventually being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in July 2020.\n\nThe regulator had said that while some risks were highlighted, other assessments \"minimised or omitted key details.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Valdo Calocane: Mother of Nottingham attack victim blasts justice system over ‘failures across every agency’ as she discusses Victim and Courts Bill\n  * Nottingham attack victim who protected friend among 20 extraordinary Britons awarded gallantry award\n  * Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane WON'T face tougher sentence as judges throw out appeal for 'unduly lenient' ruling\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThese include the fact that Calocane refused to take his medication, had ongoing and persistent symptoms of psychosis, was violent to others when psychosis was not managed well, and escalated his violent behaviour in the later stages of his care.\n\nFootage played at the inquest today showed Barnaby and Grace walking back to their student halls just after 4am on June 13, 2023.\n\nCalocane approached the two before he pulled a dagger from his bag and began hacking at Barnaby repeatedly, causing him to suffer \"grave injuries.\"\n\nAs he collapsed to the ground, Grace showed \"incredible bravery\" by attempting to fight the killer off as she shoved him into the road. Nearby witnesses heard an \"awful, blood-curdling scream\" and saw Grace attempting to crawl towards a row of houses screaming for help.\n\nBarnaby kicked his legs at the killer in a desperate bid to stop him but he fled as the pair succumbed to their horrific injuries.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**_More to follow..._**\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Valdo Calocane was free to carry out his killing spree after 'mental health workers feared detaining him would be racist', inquiry told"
}