Nottingham Attacks: The Calocane Case and Public Inquiry

In the early hours of June 13, 2023, Nottingham experienced a series of violent attacks that resulted in the deaths of three people and left three others injured. The perpetrator, Valdo Calocane, was quickly apprehended, leading to a complex legal case and, a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The Attacks and the Victims

Valdo Calocane fatally stabbed 19-year-old university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates. He similarly attempted to kill Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski, and Sharon Miller by deliberately driving a van into them .

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Initially charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, Calocane later pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder . These pleas were accepted by the prosecution. In January 2024, Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order at Nottingham Crown Court .

The Public Inquiry

The families of the victims successfully campaigned for a public inquiry to investigate the actions of public bodies leading up to the attacks. In February 2025, they met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to confirm the inquiry would proceed . Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, stated that public agencies “failed on an epic level” to protect those involved .

The inquiry, which began in February 2026, is scrutinizing the roles of prosecutors, police, and medical professionals . Initial reports have highlighted failings within Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust regarding the management of Calocane’s case, including inadequate risk assessments .

Calocane’s History and Mental Health

Calocane had a previous violent episode on May 24, 2020, involving damaging a neighbor’s door. He was assessed by mental health professionals and diagnosed with a psychotic episode, hearing voices and experiencing sleep deprivation . Despite this, he was deemed safe for community-based treatment with antipsychotic medication rather than inpatient admission .

Further Information

More details about the events of June 13, 2023, including footage of Calocane’s movements, have been documented . The case continues to draw attention to issues surrounding mental health care and public safety.