Triple killer’s ‘ lenient’ sentence to be reviewed
Hospital order for Nottingham attacker referred to Appeal Court
NOTTINGHAM triple killer Valdo Calocane’s hospital order has been referred to the Court of Appeal with it being deemed ‘unduly lenient’.
The Attorney General received multiple requests from the public for a review of the sentence imposed after he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Victoria Prentis KC announced the decision after an online meeting with the families of the victims – Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.
Mrs Prentis said the horrific crimes had shocked the nation and added it was ‘no surprise that I received so many referrals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme’.
The MP for Banbury, Oxfordshire, added: ‘Having received detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, I have concluded that the sentence imposed against Calocane, for the offences of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and attempted murder, was unduly lenient and will be referred to the Court of Appeal.
‘My thoughts remain with all of Calocane’s victims as well as their families and friends, who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time.’
The paranoid schizophrenic, 32, was given the indefinite hospital order after a three-day hearing at Nottingham Crown Court last month. The mechanical engineering graduate knifed his three victims to death and mowed down three pedestrians – all of whom survived but with serious injuries – during a rampage on June 13.
Calocane, who grew up in Pembrokeshire, Wales, but was living in Nottingham, admitted three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. But the victims’ families said there had possibly been an insufficient investigation of culpability of Calolcane in the attacks.
They said: ‘We were very glad to hear that the Attorney General has agreed with us that the sentencing given to Valdo Calocane, who so viciously and calculatedly killed our loved ones, was wrong. We are optimistic that, when this reaches the Royal Courts of Justice for its appeal, there will be an outcome that provides some of the appropriate justice that we have been calling for. It is important to remember that this is just one part of the tragic failures in this case.’
The police watchdog is probing Nottinghamshire Police over potential failings relating to the case, including its contact with Calocane prior to the killings and complaints from victims’ families over how the investigation was conducted. It is understood these relate to a failure to pursue toxicology testing – Calocane refused to give blood and urine samples while no hair sample was taken.
Mrs Webber has accused police of having ‘blood on their hands’ after it emerged a warrant had been issued for Calocane’s arrest nine months before the attack.
Prosecutors had concluded there was no real prospect of securing a murder conviction. The judge could have passed a life sentence with a long minimum term or a hybrid order of detention in a secure hospital with the option of moving him to jail at a later stage.
The Court of Appeal judges may now decide to keep the sentence the same, increase it, or refuse the application.
‘Immeasurable strength’