Northumbria Police are investigating the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for potential corporate manslaughter following the care and treatment of Valdo Calocane. Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, killed three people—19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates—in Nottingham on June 13, 2023. The criminal investigation, conducted by Northumbria Police on behalf of the Nottinghamshire force, will examine whether systemic failures within the mental health trust contributed to the deaths.
Background of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Investigation
The investigation follows a series of hearings at a public inquiry into the events surrounding the 2023 attacks. Evidence presented to the inquiry revealed that Calocane had been sectioned four times by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust between 2020 and 2022. Despite documented instances of violence and a specific warning from a doctor during a second hospital admission that Calocane could “end up killing someone,” he remained under the trust’s care until he was discharged in September 2022. The trust discharged him after he failed to attend appointments and healthcare workers reported they “couldn’t find him,” according to testimony provided to the inquiry.
Legal Implications of Corporate Manslaughter Charges
Corporate manslaughter is a serious criminal offense, applicable to public bodies such as NHS trusts to ensure institutional accountability for fatal failings. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, charges of corporate manslaughter can apply to ensure they can “be held properly accountable for very serious failings resulting in death”. The investigation could result in substantial financial penalties and may necessitate significant leadership changes within the organization. A spokesperson for the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that the organization is “cooperating fully” with Northumbria Police, noting that the trust understands the importance of the investigation for the affected families and the local community.
Related Findings and Police Accountability
The inquiry also addressed failures by law enforcement, revealing that a warrant for Calocane’s arrest was active at the time of the attacks due to his failure to appear in court for an alleged assault on a police officer. Both Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire police forces issued apologies during the inquiry for failing to execute the warrant. The decision to have Northumbria Police lead the corporate manslaughter investigation is because of the involvement of local forces in the missed arrest. Additionally, a 2026 report from the Care Quality Commission previously identified a requirement for the Nottingham trust to implement significant improvements.
Support for Victims and Families
Northumbria Police have confirmed they are in direct contact with the families of the victims and the survivors of the 2023 attacks. A representative for the force stated that they remain committed to supporting those impacted throughout the duration of the legal process. The public inquiry, which is examining the broader context of Calocane’s interactions with mental health and criminal justice services, is expected to publish its findings next year.
Chronology of Key Events
- 2020–2022: Valdo Calocane is sectioned four times by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
- September 2022: The trust discharges Calocane from mental health services after he fails to attend appointments.
- June 13, 2023: Calocane kills Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley Kumar, and Ian Coates in Nottingham.
- Ongoing: Northumbria Police conduct a criminal investigation into the trust for corporate manslaughter.
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